NEWSLETTER
It’s that time of the year where college football’s top coaches make their way to the NFL rumor circle. And with the Bears’ situation being up in the air after their 5-1 start flamed out, Chicago’s football team figures to be along for a ride on the rumor mill.
And that’s what SI.com’s Albert Beer does in a recent appearance on Colin Cowherd’s show on FS1. In talking about Jim Harbaugh’s future, Breer mentions two teams as possible fits. The first being the Jets. It feels like Adam Gase is playing out the string in New York, and because Jets ownership apparently has an affinity and history with Harbaugh, this could be how the cookie crumbles for the team leading the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.
As for the other team Breer offers up, well, it’s the one near and dear to our hearts:
“The second team, and this is one that I think sort of fits what Jim Harbaugh has to sell at the NFL level, would be the Chicago Bears. Here’s the thing: He’s Bill Parcells. He comes in, shakes your program up, he’ll get immediate results, and you know what, maybe three or four years down the line maybe he’s worn everybody out and he’s gone. It’s what happened at Stanford, it’s what happened at San Francisco, and it’s what could happen at Michigan. And so, I think if there’s a team that’s perfect for him, it’s a team that needs to win right now. Look at the Bears. What do they have? A great defense that has one or two runs left in it. If you’re the Bears, you’re probably not worried about 5 years from now.”
So on one hand, Breer’s assessment on what makes Harbaugh a potential fit isn’t too far off base. Harbaugh is a proven winner at the NFL level and Chicago’s upper-management might want to try one last run with this defensive core. And as Breer points out, it’s possible (even likely) that the Bears aren’t worried about the long-term. After all, team matriarch Virginia McCaskey isn’t getting any younger. So with that in mind, I can understand why the Bears and Harbaugh are a fit. Take one last swing with a proven head coach, then worry about the future when the time comes to cross that bridge.
On the other hand, Harbaugh’s time at Michigan is something of a turnoff. One of the most prestigious jobs in college football hasn’t lured the type of elite quarterback prospect Wolverines fans expect. And as a result, Michigan has continued to fall behind arch-rival Ohio State. Hence, the up-tick in rumors regarding Harbaugh’s availability (and rumored interest from NFL teams). Sure, Michigan has produced pro-caliber talent elsewhere. But the quarterback stuff hits too close to home.
Then again, he led a team to a Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick quarterbacking the squad. And his past hires for assistants (Vic Fangio, Greg Roman) are top notch. I suppose the Bears could use a CEO-type of head coach to right the ship. And in that scenario, it’s not a stretch to see Harbaugh as a fit. However, I come back to one thought as these coaching rumors pop up — shouldn’t the Bears know what they’re doing at general manager before they figure out what they want out of their next head coach? After all, both positions are currently occupied at this time. Nevertheless, this is something we’ll continue to watch moving forward.
