NEWSLETTER
The list of candidates the Chicago Bears are reportedly sorting through in their search for a new GM grew by one again.
At least the newest name to be thrown into the mix is one Bears fans should have some familiarity with:
The Bears have put in a request to interview ex-Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, now a Dolphins senior personnel executive, for their open GM spot, per sources.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 16, 2022
Albert Breer, who pens The MMQB for SI.com, reports the Bears are asking to interview Dolphins Senior Personnel Executive Reggie McKenzie for their GM opening. This brings Chicago’s list to a whopping 14 names. And that is just for general managers. Admittedly, that is a ton of names. But for what it’s worth, adding McKenzie should provide a bunch of background, information, and perspective. And that stuff isn’t inconsequential.
McKenzie was a long-time executive in the Green Bay Packers organization. So, at minimum, the Bears should be picking his brain on anything and everything Packers related. McKenzie held the titles of Pro Personnel Assistant, Pro Personnel Director, and Director of Football Operations during a stretch of years spanning from 1994-2011. After Green Bay won a title at the end of his run, McKenzie left to become the Raiders’ general manager. While in Oakland, McKenzie was ultimately led to trade Khalil Mack to the Bears and Amari Cooper to the Cowboys for a variety of reasons. And while the Raiders were able to net a fair amount of draft capital in return, he wasn’t around to use it. What a bummer for him.
Since 2019, McKenzie has been in the Dolphins organization as a senior executive. And that is worth noting on two fronts. Firstly, because interviewing with the Bears could possibly lead to a return to a more hands-on position in football. But not to be overlooked is his connection to Brian Flores. Being in a senior advisory role, McKenzie could provide some background on a Bears head coach candidate. Not to say that this is all a ruse to put together an elaborate cross-checking and thorough vetting of Flores. But including that in the interview process right not hurt.
In the end, it’s just another name to keep tabs on as we go into Week 2 of this process. One that doesn’t seem like it will be ending soon.
