The Chicago Bears came into the season with high hopes. Things have not gone as planned. Caleb Williams and the offense started out promising but haven’t been able to sustain success. Head coach Matt Eberflus was fired after their Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions. The former Colts defensive coordinator shockingly didn’t call a timeout after a sack with 30 seconds left, and time expired on the game. Many have wondered who will take the job, as plenty of great pieces are on the team. On Christmas morning, it was reported former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has expressed interest in the job.
Pete Carroll Interested In The Chicago Bears
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Pete Carroll is eager to get back on an NFL sideline and is intrigued by the Chicago Bears. Carroll was the head coach of the Seahawks for 14 years before being ousted last January. In August, he expressed a desire to get back into a head coaching role at some point, pointing out he has never felt more full of energy.
“I get asked a lot, so I’m pretty familiar with answering that I could coach tomorrow. I’m physically in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. I’m ready to be ready to do all the activities that I’m doing and feeling really good about it. I could, but I’m not desiring it at this point.”
It’s easy to see why the Chicago Bears are a desirable destination. Caleb Williams hasn’t been perfect this season but has shown flashes of greatness. The offense hasn’t done him any favors. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was fired a few weeks before Eberflus for a lack of creativity. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are promising young receivers. D’Andre Swift has been a quality free-agent signing as well. On defense, the Bears have quality young pieces and could become an elite unit with some good coaching.
Carroll’s Coaching History
Pete Carroll got his first head coaching position in 1994 with the New York Jets. He then coached the New England Patriots from 1997-1999. It was his tenure at USC that put him on the map. From 2001-2009, he was the head coach of the USC Trojans. During those years, he won the Pac-12 Conference seven times, the Rose Bowl four times, and back-to-back national championships in 2003-2004. After his time in Southern California ended in controversy, he became the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2010.
The legendary defense of the early 2010s, the Legion of Boom, defined his time in Seattle. He won Super Bowl XLVIII in dominating fashion. The Seahawks returned to the Super Bowl the next year but lost to the Patriots after he decided to throw a pass on the half-yard line instead of handing it to Marshawn Lynch. Seattle never returned to the Super Bowl but was always competitive in the NFC West.
Final Thoughts
This would be a great hire for the Chicago Bears. They need a proven head coach who has a pedigree of winning. Pete Carroll has shown he can win at all levels. He is one of four coaches to win a national championship and a Super Bowl (Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, and Jim Harbaugh). The Bears have a big decision to make. Squandering another opportunity with a promising quarterback would be catastrophic. Many names have been mentioned, and it will be interesting to see which name they go with.
