California dreaming to lake effect legacy: 2024-2025 Chicago Bears 🐻 season thread

[CHICAGO]

There's levels to this shyt breh.

You operate like a business, not a HS team. Hell, some HS teams have more foresight into succession planning than what the Bears have shown.

If Ben Johnson is their guy, then they show conviction and rollout the red carpet and go get him. Obviously, you have other options, but you have a SELECT few, not all these random mfers.

Plus they JUST did with when they landed on Waldron, so what are we really talking about?

STOP MENTIONING WALDRON.
POLES/ARMSTRONG/FLUS
ALREADY KNEW HE WAS THEIR GUY
GOING IN.

SECONDLY BEN JOHNSON
BASICALLY HAD THE DC JOB
LAST YR THEN FLAKED
ON THEM LAST SEASON
SO HES DEFINETLY NOT THE GUY
YOU CAN PUT ALL YOUR CHIPS
BEHIND JUST TO BE LEFT EMPTY HANDED.

NOW THAT DALLAS IS OPEN
THEYLL HAVE THE BEST SHOT
IF THEY WANT HIM IMO


​

 

[GoldenGlove]

STOP MENTIONING WALDRON.
POLES/ARMSTRONG/FLUS
ALREADY KNEW HE WAS THEIR GUY
GOING IN.

SECONDLY BEN JOHNSON
BASICALLY HAD THE DC JOB
LAST YR THEN FLAKED
ON THEM LAST SEASON
SO HES DEFINETLY NOT THE GUY
YOU CAN PUT ALL YOUR CHIPS
BEHIND JUST TO BE LEFT EMPTY HANDED.

NOW THAT DALLAS IS OPEN
THEYLL HAVE THE BEST SHOT
IF THEY WANT HIM IMO


​

So they just wasted everybody's fukking time during that OC search, cool.

Whether it's Ben Johnson or someone else, it really doesn't take this long to get a coach if you have your shyt together.

Why did Vrabel commit with New England already? Are they a more attractive spot than Chicago?

 

[Deafheaven]

So they just wasted everybody's fukking time during that OC search, cool.

Whether it's Ben Johnson or someone else, it really doesn't take this long to get a coach if you have your shyt together.

Why did Vrabel commit with New England already? Are they a more attractive spot than Chicago?

Vrabel is not on a team. he was free to sign any where, any time. You can't even do in person interviews for dudes still in the playoffs, I don't know how many times this has to be mentioned

 

[EzekelRAGE]

It was rumored ben johnson turned down HC positions last year due to teams not wanting to pay what he was asking for, I wouldnt call that flaking

 

[Brozay]

Ya'll tweaking. This team is perpetually goofy but imagine they DON'T land BJ for w/e reason and they only interviewed a couple people. then folks would be mad like they didn't do a thorough search or have backup plans. I think it can't be ignored you literally can't even hire dude till possibly after the super bowl

you expect them not to look at any other coaches until then?

Ive seen multiple reports now from sources around the league saying the process isnt great and wont lead to the best result. It is starting to seem somewhat performative. People are also saying too many cooks in the kitchen.

This process doesnt sound like its going to be as attractive as Brady leading the charge in Vegas:

They’re all part of what Poles called his “interview panel.”

But wait, there’s more.

“Our senior leadership here with the Bears is also everyone that’s gone through the league training in terms of inclusivity and sound hiring practices that the league puts in place, and as we move forward in our process, they will have time to spend with our candidates, especially as we get down to the finalist group,” Poles said.

Wait, what?

“I think it’s really important,” Poles said. “Kevin and I talk about it all the time, just the continuity between football and business. That’s one thing we take a lot of pride in here. So it’s important when we get to the right phase that they’re involved as well, and become familiar with our staff. I think that’s important. It’s a part of the family that’s here. They support football and football supports business, and it’s a beautiful relationship and it’s something we take serious here.”


Poles said that could include some of the team’s “SVP group on the business side,” while Warren added that some of the Bears’ executive vice presidents could be involved.

“A lot of them like Karen Murphy — one, our chief operating officer — but has been here over 20 years and they have insight into the organization,” Warren said. “And all of these interviews are, they go both ways. It’s not only us interviewing the candidates, but it’s the candidates interviewing us and I want to make sure — I know Ryan wants to make sure — that we provide all the opportunities for candidates to ask questions.”

What are Vrabel, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores going to ask Murphy, though? Will she be able to tell them how many years Poles has left on his contract? (A team source said during this past season that Poles started with a four-year contract.)

The Bears aren’t the first team to involve different parts of their organization in an interview process but, given the team’s track record of hiring coaches, it still comes off as alarming. The Bears are supposed to be appealing to candidates, not overwhelming them. The Bears should be emboldening Poles, if they truly believe in him as Warren and McCaskey said they did. Instead, they seem to be complicating an already difficult process for their young GM by not publicly announcing an extension for him as the team did for former GM Ryan Pace in 2018.

But, seriously, what if something said in a non-football-related meeting alarms and disengages one of Poles’ handpicked finalists for the job? What if Vrabel doesn’t want to meet with anyone but Poles and McCaskey? What if Johnson removes his name from consideration as he’s done with other teams in the past?

 

[jwinfield]

Ive seen multiple reports now from sources around the league saying the process isnt great and wont lead to the best result. It is starting to seem somewhat performative. People are also saying too many cooks in the kitchen.

This process doesnt sound like its going to be as attractive as Brady leading the charge in Vegas:

On some Madden shyt going to be asking Ben’s input on the price of hot dogs and box suite prices.

 

[Deafheaven]

This is how you know a lot of bears fans are as clueless as the team

McCarthy

Wins, develops the qb, and has great offenses. Plus Caleb idolizes Arod, who got several mvps with him IIRC

how would that be a bad hire

 

[Brozay]

This is how you know a lot of bears fans are as clueless as the team

McCarthy

Wins, develops the qb, and has great offenses. Plus Caleb idolizes Arod, who got several mvps with him IIRC

how would that be a bad hire

yeah I dont get the strong negative reaction there -- maybe a former Packers thing? Im not saying hes my favorite, but he has a big time track record, and has led top offenses for two different franchises

 

[OscarAcosta]

I started off hating the prospect of having him as HC, but, the more that I’ve thought about it, MM seems a safe & sensible, if somewhat unexciting hire. Hopefully it would provide some stability and a platform for growth after the Trestman, Fox, Nagy, and Eberflus run of drizzling shyt.

 

[OscarAcosta]

yeah I dont get the strong negative reaction there -- maybe a former Packers thing? Im not saying hes my favorite, but he has a big time track record, and has led top offenses for two different franchises

from my own side, initially it was a Packers thing; the fact that there was expectation for Johnson and he,s the hot name; and that Dallas seemed to shyt the bed when the lights started to shine bright - always seemed like a bit of a paper tiger.

TBH, a good couple of strong regular seasons, even if they result in going out of the offs early, would be a win for me. i think he brings real experience and competence in regular season, and after the last few years the team desperately needs that In bucketloads.

 

[nefarious]

If I’m Ben Johnson I’m asking myself, is it easier to go to the raiders and find a passable QB or is it easier to go to the Bears and constantly fight against a completely dysfunctional organization led by the dumbest people in football.

No chance he comes here.

 

[jwinfield]

If I’m Ben Johnson I’m asking myself, is it easier to go to the raiders and find a passable QB or is it easier to go to the Bears and constantly fight against a completely dysfunctional organization led by the dumbest people in football.

No chance he comes here.

Imagine being interviewed and the big boss can't even confirm that the guy you'd be reporting to will even still have the job when you get there, or asks if you want to get rid of them so you can bring in your own guy

 

[CHICAGO]

This is how you know a lot of bears fans are as clueless as the team

McCarthy

Wins, develops the qb, and has great offenses. Plus Caleb idolizes Arod, who got several mvps with him IIRC

how would that be a bad hire

PPL ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN
THESE YOUNG NAMES AND ARE
DISMISSING PROVEN COACHES.

WEVE SEEN GOOD OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS
FAIL AS HC PLENTY OF TIMES.

KLIFF KINGSBURY
FLAMED OUT IN ARIZONA
AND NEVER HAD A TOP TEN
SCORING OFFENSE.

HE GETS JAYDEN DANIELS
AND NOW HES A HOT CANDIDATE AGAIN.

I RATHER GO WITH A
PROVEN HC


​

 

[chiefdogg]

If I’m Ben Johnson I’m asking myself, is it easier to go to the raiders and find a passable QB or is it easier to go to the Bears and constantly fight against a completely dysfunctional organization led by the dumbest people in football.

No chance he comes here.

Mark Davis would like to have a word with you.

 

[nefarious]

Mark Davis would like to have a word with you.

Sure but if Tom Brady bought into the Bears and had an active hand, I’d feel a lot better about our team.

Its not just Mark anymore.