NEWSLETTER
Sure, the Chicago Bears’ front office might have a list of preferred candidates lined up for when the team (presumably) dismisses John Fox after his third straight losing season. However, the New York Giants have an opening right now and have already made it clear that the franchise wouldn’t stand for sub-par performance.
Bob Glauber of Newsday paints a picture of what’s next for the Giants after the team parted ways with Ben McAdoo on Monday and includes a list of top head coaching candidates. That group includes Jim Harbaugh (Michigan head coach), Josh McDaniels (Patriots offensive coordinator), and Jim Bob Cooter (Lions offensive coordinator).
There are others on the list, including Alabama’s Nick Saban, who appears to be an even longer shot to leave Alabama than Harbaugh is to depart Michigan. Then again, you can’t get what you don’t ask for.
For what it’s worth, Mike Girardi of NBC Sports Boston tweets that he is “fully expecting” Giants CEO/Co-Owner John Mara and the Giants to inquire about McDaniels. And let’s not forget that Ernie Accorsi is also aiding the Giants in this search. You might remember him as the consultant who helped arrange the Fox-Ryan Pace situation Chicago currently has.
It should come as no surprise to see the names that cross over from Glauber’s list to the rumored Bears list. After all, there are only so many candidates to fill out what is expected to be anywhere between seven and nine openings in the offseason.
The big-picture takeaway here is that while the Bears sit on a lame-duck coach, another team is already on the prowl and could position itself to scoop in on a preferred candidate. That’s a less-than-ideal situation to be in, but one Chicago will be in until the front office makes a move. It might behoove the Bears’ front office to strike quickly, seeing that there is a perceived drop-off in high-quality candidates after McDaniels.
