The Chicago Bears head coaching search reached a whole new level Wednesday when former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was in town for an in-person interview.
And he arrived by private jet.
It’s high-class treatment for a coach who is certainly high on general manager Ryan Poles’ wish list, which has unfortunately grown as big as an Amazon shopaholic’s.
Either way, McCarthy is a very real candidate to land the Bears job, and that’s good news. Sure, Bears fans are hoping for the new coordinator-turned-head coach in Ben Johnson, but can Chicago really afford to take a chance on a first-time head coach with such a critical developmental window? from Caleb Williams on the horizon?
I would say they can’t. I know, it’s an unpopular view. But it’s a question that needs to be seriously thought about.
McCarthy is not a sexy choice. He’s more of a retread than a headline-grabbing superstar. But the Bears don’t need sexy. They need a guy who can build a winning program and develop a franchise quarterback. You don’t have to look very long through McCarthy’s coaching resume to know he’s this guy.
ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky emphasized this point during a recent segment on NFL Live. He made some excellent points, and it pains me to say it. I’m not a big Orlovsky guy, but I have to give credit to Caesar.
Check it out:
“Last year, Caleb still played with a question mark too often; Mike McCarthy will make it an exclamation point.”@danorlovsky7 shares his top three reasons why Mike McCarthy is the right coach for Caleb Williams 👀 pic.twitter.com/XVX8nNqwWz
– NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 15, 2025
I love Orlovksy’s point that McCarthy is turning Williams’ question marks into exclamation points. This paints a good picture of what the next Bears coach needs to do; they need to develop Williams into a confident decision-maker who can let his incredible natural talent take over after understanding all the nuances of being a professional quarterback.
We got a glimpse during Caleb Williams’ rookie season of how sensational he can be. But these insights need to turn into consistent production from week to week. Mike McCarthy turned Aaron Rodgers into this guy. He transformed Dak Prescott from a good starting quarterback to one of the most prolific passers in the NFL. He can have the same impact on Williams.
In the end, that’s what matters most. If the Poles and Chicago Bears want what’s best for the organization, they’ll hire the coach who’s the best fit for Williams. Maybe it’s Ben Johnson. But they won’t “settle” if they hire McCarthy. Instead, it would represent a huge step forward for an organization stuck in reverse.
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