Todd Monken is set to interview with the Chicago Bears this weekend, and I can’t shake the feeling that he is giving me Bruce Arians vibes.
For those who are unfamiliar, one of the biggest mistakes in modern Chicago Bears history came in 2013 when the team passed on hiring Bruce Arians and instead tabbed Marc Trestman as the head coach to replace Lovie Smith. Unfortunately, there is no time machine that can take us back and right that wrong. But that there is a candidate who is giving off similar vibes โ Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken โ makes me wonder if the right hire can repair a glitch in the timeline.
To be clear, Todd Monken isn’t a one-for-one comp for Bruce Arians. No one is. Arians is a one-of-one coach and personality. But there are similarities in their paths that I simply cannot ignore as I continue to dissect the Bears’ ongoing search for a new head coach.
Todd Monken is my favorite under-the-radar candidate
Don’t get it twisted. Ben Johnson is *THE* hottest head coaching candidate in this hiring cycle. And I do not want to diminish the candidacy of Super Bowl-winning coaches such as Mike McCarthy and Pete Carroll. I also do not want to underestimate upstarts, including Aaron Glenn and Joe Brady. Since the Bears fired Matt Eberflus on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I’ve been writing about how this crop of coaching candidates is full of intriguing possibilities. Among them is Todd Monken.
And for what it’s worth, it seems as if Monken has been on the Bears’ wish list for a while. This tweet from Albert Breer seems worth sharing:
I know we, as a Bears fandom, have been obsessed with Ben Johnson seemingly forever. And the Mike McCarthy stuff, while relatively fresh, is polarizing. Now, we have Todd Monken as a candidate who piques our interest differently and in a refreshing way.
Here is what Patrick Flowers had to say in his profile of the Ravens OC:
For the Bears, Monkenโs ability to build an offense around Williams while maximizing the output of key skill players like DJ Moore and the running back corps could transform the team into an offensive juggernaut.
Monken has showcased a diverse offensive approach tailored to his personnel throughout his career. From Tampa Bayโs high-powered vertical attack to Clevelandโs balanced offense featuring Nick Chubbโs league-leading rushing production, Monken has proven adaptable. This flexibility would be invaluable in designing an offense suited to Caleb Williamsโ dual-threat capabilities, blending deep passing concepts with a strong ground game to take advantage of Williamsโ elite athleticism and arm talent.
Not only does that snapshot make me want to put Todd Monken near the top of my head coach candidate wish list, but it also had me looking back at Bruce Arians’ body of work.
Arians had a history of coaching running backs (Chiefs, 1989-1992), tight ends (Saints, 1996), quarterbacks (Colts, 1998-2000), and wide receivers (Steelers (2004-06). He also had offensive coordinator stints in college (Mississippi State, 1993-95; Alabama, 1997) and in the pros (Browns 2001-03; Steelers 2007-11; Colts 2012). Arians was well-traveled before becoming interim head coach in Indy. But that load of experience, combined with making the most of his head coaching opportunity with the Colts, led him to new heights as the top guy in Arizona (2013-17) and Tampa Bay (2019-21).
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Perhaps Todd Monken can follow a similar path. Like Arians, Monken has ample college coaching experience (including stops at Notre Dame, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Southern Miss, Oklahoma State), has had his hands on a bunch of different position groups (running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks, defensive backs), and has pro and college stints as an offensive coordinator (Bucs, Browns, UGA, Ravens). Monken is 58, so I can understand why some Bears fans are hesitant to go all in on a first-time head coach who is a little older. However, a coach like Arians has laid out a blueprint that could serve as a reminder that we should keep our eyes open to different possibilities.
