2025 Bears Offseason Thread

[BigSlick]

If we were talking about a competent organization, interviewing as many people as possible is a boon: You get to meet them, learn about them, and possibly make connections for the future. *More* interviews isn't necessarily a sign of weakness, dysfunction, or indecision. There are ways you benefit from interviewing people for HC even if you don't really have any real belief you'll sign them. 

Of course, the Bears aren't a competently run organization. 

[minnesotacubsfan]

9 minutes ago, BigSlick said:

If we were talking about a competent organization, interviewing as many people as possible is a boon: You get to meet them, learn about them, and possibly make connections for the future. *More* interviews isn't necessarily a sign of weakness, dysfunction, or indecision. There are ways you benefit from interviewing people for HC even if you don't really have any real belief you'll sign them. 

Of course, the Bears aren't a competently run organization. 

A competent organization would NEVER interview 19 candidates because they would have an idea of where and how they wanted to build their team, instead, moronic teams interview 19 because they literally have NO IDEA what to do

they have a legit QB and they can’t figure out how to build a team around him

 

 

Edited January 13, 2025 by minnesotacubsfan

[Derwood]

A legit organization would not be interviewing Ron Fudging Rivera

[Irrelevant Dude]

37 minutes ago, minnesotacubsfan said:

A competent organization would NEVER interview 19 candidates because they would have an idea of where and how they wanted to build their team, instead, moronic teams interview 19 because they literally have NO IDEA what to do

 

I mean, at least they didn't hire a consulting firm (that we know of) to find the 19 candidates.  That's a step in the right direction!

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I can't think of any actual downside to interviewing a bunch of people. It's good networking.  But I'm mad at the Bears so I'm down to call them dumb for it.

[Derwood]

[Wilson A2000]

I doubt he’s interested, but what do you think about Marcus Freeman?

[WrigleyField 22]

1 hour ago, Wilson A2000 said:

I doubt he’s interested, but what do you think about Marcus Freeman?

No

[mul21]

10 hours ago, Derwood said:

A legit organization would not be interviewing Ron Fudging Rivera

Disagree.  He's the perfect guy to bring in as DC under one of the offensive head coaches.  He runs the defense already in place so you wouldn't need a bunch of personnel adjustments either.  I hope he's not a serious HC candidate though.

[Old Style]

If they can’t get Ben Johnson I want Joe Brady. 

[jersey cubs fan]

1 hour ago, Wilson A2000 said:

I doubt he’s interested, but what do you think about Marcus Freeman?

I’d probably be more happy with him than I was with Eberflus, Fox or Trestman. I think I was vaguely okay with Nagy but not enthusiastic. The first time I heard his Delaware valley accent I knew we were screwed as though 

 

So maybe Freeman would be the best of the post Lovie batch. But there’s huge questions about the staff he’d bring with. Presumably you’d need some big name experience NFL guys at coordinator spots. Like a Ron Rivera as DC, but who as OC? 

[WrigleyField 22]

41 minutes ago, mul21 said:

Disagree.  He's the perfect guy to bring in as DC under one of the offensive head coaches.  He runs the defense already in place so you wouldn't need a bunch of personnel adjustments either.  I hope he's not a serious HC candidate though.

I think we should slow down with the idea of HC interviews as secret coordinator interviews.

 

There's a least some speculation Ron was brought in person specifically due to Rooney Rule... I don't know is that's truely the case, but Bears were behind 8 ball with Vrabel if they were making a serious run at him. For what it is worth he seemed to come out of nowhere and is the only in person interview so far when all others, even Carroll and Vrabel were reported to be virtual. Maybe there is something there, though they are still one Rooney Rule interview short if they were trying to close Vrabel quickly.

Or they legit had interest. Or they are just doing a lot of network/info gathering and Rivera is a former HC in a search with only a few others like that who could give new perspectives.

Or George mandated it because the org still lives in 1985 and 2006.  Or Poles actually likes him (thus explains why George is so behind him)

[Wilson A2000]

19 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

I’d probably be more happy with him than I was with Eberflus, Fox or Trestman. I think I was vaguely okay with Nagy but not enthusiastic. The first time I heard his Delaware valley accent I knew we were screwed as though 

 

So maybe Freeman would be the best of the post Lovie batch. But there’s huge questions about the staff he’d bring with. Presumably you’d need some big name experience NFL guys at coordinator spots. Like a Ron Rivera as DC, but who as OC? 

Thomas Brown or McCarthy

[WrigleyField 22]

6 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Thomas Brown or McCarthy

Hard to support Thomas Brown back in any capacity honestly.  Had a little bit of a dead cat bounce when he became OC, but his cumulative record, including his time last year in Carolina is a tough sell.

 

Seems likely McCarthy is back in Dallas and if not I see him sitting out a year or doing some light Sr advisor horsefeathers for a year.  Going to a OC role does little for him.

Edited January 13, 2025 by WrigleyField 22

[Brian707]

Tom Brady will be broadcasting the Lions-Commanders game.  

Wonder if he is going to woo Ben Johnson to come to Vegas? I know its against the rules but he is the NFL golden boy.

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Tom Brady will be broadcasting the Lions-Commanders game.  

Wonder if he is going to woo Ben Johnson to come to Vegas? I know its against the rules but he is the NFL golden boy.

This is absolutely annoying.  Sorry Tom you cant be a color guy on TV and be an active owner of an NFL team (meaning helping to bring in coaches and FAs).  You certainly shouldn't have extra access to a coach you are trying to woo.  It probably not as big of a deal as I'm making it, but I'm assuming the Bears can't talk to Ben Johnson right now if they wanted to, while Brady can spend time with him to further try to sell him on the Raiders.  This is a really easy fix, just switch commentators and put Greg Olson and whoever he works with (I barely pay attention to announcers and what they have to say) on the call.  I know Olson is a former Bear and has spoken positively about them even after being traded but he doesn't have a vested interest in him coming to the Bears like Brady does with the Raiders.

[gflore34]

8 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Tom Brady will be broadcasting the Lions-Commanders game.  

Wonder if he is going to woo Ben Johnson to come to Vegas? I know its against the rules but he is the NFL golden boy.

And he's not above cheating, is there any doubt?

[jersey cubs fan]

34 minutes ago, WrigleyField 22 said:

I think we should slow down with the idea of HC interviews as secret coordinator interviews.

 

There's a least some speculation Ron was brought in person specifically due to Rooney Rule... I don't know is that's truely the case, but Bears were behind 8 ball with Vrabel if they were making a serious run at him. For what it is worth he seemed to come out of nowhere and is the only in person interview so far when all others, even Carroll and Vrabel were reported to be virtual. Maybe there is something there, though they are still one Rooney Rule interview short if they were trying to close Vrabel quickly.

Or they legit had interest. Or they are just doing a lot of network/info gathering and Rivera is a former HC in a search with only a few others like that who could give new perspectives.

Or George mandated it because the org still lives in 1985 and 2006.  Or Poles actually likes him (thus explains why George is so behind him)

They’re interviewing Thomas Brown, they’ve requested interviews with Aaron Glenn and Brian Flores. I don’t really think Rooney rule stuff is at all in play with Rivera 

[mul21]

20 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Tom Brady will be broadcasting the Lions-Commanders game.  

Wonder if he is going to woo Ben Johnson to come to Vegas? I know its against the rules but he is the NFL golden boy.

I'm not sure he has any access to do that based on the restrictions he's under.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2024-10-16/tom-brady-fox-broadcast-restrictions-raiders-owner#:~:text=Brady can't criticize other,he can't watch practices.

Quote

Brady can’t criticize other teams or game officials and he can’t attend broadcast production meetings that serve as the primary means of preparing for games. He also isn’t allowed in the facilities of any team besides the Raiders except in stadiums when he’s calling a game, and he can’t watch practices.

 

[WrigleyField 22]

10 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

They’re interviewing Thomas Brown, they’ve requested interviews with Aaron Glenn and Brian Flores. I don’t really think Rooney rule stuff is at all in play with Rivera 

Brown won't count towards Rooney Rule.  Glenn and Flores they can't get in the door until earliest the 20th.  If they were really trying to make a push for Vrabel they had to find a way to advance the timeline of 2 in person interviews.  

Not saying they could have closed as quick as NE did who really blatantly sham interviewed the Rooney Rule interviews, but there could be something there and at least one insider alluded to it...

 

It's also possible now that among the group of Weaver, Shaw, Glenn, Flores they only end up needing to bring 1 in person.  If 3 don't wow, you'd have basically still had to have advanced one. On Shaw I've seen conflicting reports on if he's restricted from in-person interviews like employed coaches are - he's an employee of Denver, but as an Exec...

Edited January 13, 2025 by WrigleyField 22

[Derwood]

The Rooney Rule requires in-person interviews?

[cwood218]

2 minutes ago, Derwood said:

The Rooney Rule requires in-person interviews?

Yes, and they don't count if it's a person from your own organization i.e. Thomas Brown and the Bears.

[Derwood]

Just now, cwood218 said:

Yes, and they don't count if it's a person from your own organization i.e. Thomas Brown and the Bears.

Thanks. I know they did a Zoom interview with Glenn, that's why I was confused.

[jersey cubs fan]

4 minutes ago, Derwood said:

The Rooney Rule requires in-person interviews?

Yes

[gflore34]

16 minutes ago, mul21 said:

I'm not sure he has any access to do that based on the restrictions he's under.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2024-10-16/tom-brady-fox-broadcast-restrictions-raiders-owner#:~:text=Brady can't criticize other,he can't watch practices.

 

When have rules stopped Brady?  If he wants to contact Johnson prior to an official interview he'll find a way.