Traditionally, teams looking to make sweeping organizational changes — much like the ones we believe the Chicago Bears need to make in order to right the ship — should get on that sooner rather than later. Otherwise, teams that wait tend to put themselves at risk of falling behind what could be a crowded market.
But because 2020 is what it is, there is one hurdle that throws a wrench into whatever search is down the pipeline:
Here’s the full NFL memo on new COVID-19 procedures for interviewing head coach, GM and other candidates — including virtual interviews only until the season ends, and mandates for shorter in-person interviews, masks and social distancing. pic.twitter.com/allPJvRZCt
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 7, 2020
NFL teams can’t host in-person interviews until *after* the the 2020 regular season ends. Social distancing measures are still in effect whenever these interviews go down, but just know that they can’t happen until after the regular season concludes.
That’s important perspective to have in the wake of the most gut-wrenching loss of the year. Because, in other words, a Monday firing of GM Ryan Pace and/or Head Coach Matt Nagy would’ve been nothing more than a symbolic gesture. It would’ve made some fans feel good, to be sure. However, I’m unsure if it would’ve been good for the long game. In any case, I imagine this rules caveat also could be reason enough for a team like the Bears — who aren’t yet mathematically eliminated from postseason play — to hold off from putting change into motion. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.
Then again, if the Bears are serious about making the types of top-down changes, this bump in the road shouldn’t stop them from making it known that they want to make such a change.
Earlier, we discussed the possibility of Ted Phillips leaving his post as team president. If an organizational re-structuring is on George McCaskey’s mind right now, then moving Phillips out of his position should probably happen immediately. Because while in-person interviews can’t happen right now, it might be more important to tell the world the Bears are open for business.
Meanwhile, other organizations are already targeting potential hires:
ESPN commentator and former Washington and Philadelphia pro personnel director Louis Riddick is among a list of candidates for Falcons' GM job, according to sources. Riddick, who played for the Falcons in 1992 and '96, has interviewed for other GM jobs in past. @TheAthleticNFL
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) December 7, 2020
Whether or not you want the Bears to hire Riddick doesn’t matter. That the Falcons have Riddick on their short-list doesn’t necessarily matter either. What matters is that Atlanta is making it known the franchise is open for business. Teams like the Falcons, Lions, Jaguars, and Texans have a head start on pursuing and narrowing their target lists. The Bears don’t, especially because we aren’t just talking about an open GM gig – it could be much more than that.
Again, this might not seem like a big deal right now. But timing is everything. We saw how timing played a role in Matt Nagy not getting his preferred defensive coordinator after the 2018 season. It would be a shame if history repeated itself in a because the franchise acted in a traditional manner.