In order for Matt Nagy to serve as the Chicago Bears’ head coach on Sunday, he needs to test negative for COVID-19 twice at least 24 hours apart. But if that doesn’t happen, the team has a backup plan in place.
If Matt Nagy can’t coach on Sunday, Chris Tabor will have the role as the head coach. #bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) October 27, 2021
*IF* is doing plenty of heavy lifting here. But if Nagy can’t do the job, then it will be Chris Tabor serving as the acting head coach on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Tabor has been the Bears’ special teams coordinator since 2018. Before that, he was the Browns special teams coach from 2011-17. Prior to that run in Cleveland, Tabor was Dave Toub’s assistant special teams coach from 2008-10. So, in short, Tabor has a lengthy run dealing with NFL players in all three phases of the game. That probably isn’t inconsequential, considering how both head coaches and special teams coordinators must be cognizant of what’s happening on offense, defense, and special teams. This would also leave Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor and Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai to focus on their respective units without having to wear the head coach’s cap, too.
For what it’s worth, Tabor *DOES* have prior head-coaching experience. Tabor was the head coach for NAIA’s Culver-Stockton College football team in 2001. During his lone year running the show, Tabor led the Wildcats to a 6-5 record. It was a magical year for that program, which set school records for point, touchdowns, and total yards. No wonder he is next-man-up behind Nagy. He’s a winner, baby!