ESPN Delivers Update On Kevin Warren’s Plans For Next Head Coach

Kevin Warren took over as team president for the Chicago Bears after head coach Matt Eberflus had already been hired. He had no say in that decision, which is why many believe he would jump at the chance to make a change if things didn’t go well. However, he signed off on the decision to keep Eberflus another season this past year, citing a desire for continuity. Further reports suggest Warren wanted to fire the head coach but acquiesced to the wishes of GM Ryan Poles. Now, as the Bears slowly implode, stuck in a five-game losing streak, it appears Eberflus is all but gone.

That leads to the obvious question: What does Warren want to do once that final decision is made? Dan Graziano of ESPN shared a fascinating little nugget this week. While no specific names are mentioned, the Bears president is hoping to go after somebody of name value—a “splashy” hire, as it was called.

Speaking of tradition, the Bears have plenty of that. They would have every reason to go for an offensive-minded coach should they move on from Matt Eberflus, but would Belichick work in Chicago?

Graziano: I think Bears team president Kevin Warren, who’s trying to get a new stadium built, would be interested in a splashy hire if they moved on from Eberflus. And yes, that’s still an if. Remember, this time last year the whole league was sure Eberflus wouldn’t be back in 2024. That said, while I hear you on Belichick potentially being OK giving up some control, I’ll believe it when I see it. Warren and GM Ryan Poles have a lot of power in that building, and bringing in Belichick would require some sort of change in the power structure.

This certainly tracks with the Kevin Warren mindset.

Since taking over the franchise, he has often mentioned thinking big, and he maintained that mentality during his run as commissioner of the Big Ten. He was instrumental in the conference’s expansion, bringing in financial powerhouses like USC and UCLA. There is also the fact that his previous stops in the NFL echoed a similar mentality. The St. Louis Rams hired Dick Vermeil in 1997. He’d won a Rose Bowl at UCLA and gotten the Eagles to their first Super Bowl in 1980. The Detroit Lions hired Steve Mariucci in 2003. He’d led San Francisco to four playoff appearances and an NFC championship game in the 1990s.

Kevin Warren might be thinking along those same lines. Bill Belichick is certainly the most accomplished name out there, but he’s 72. He has no long-term viability. Who does that leave? Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is the first to come to mind. He made the playoffs three times in six seasons and reached an AFC championship. Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach is a free agent and won a Super Bowl in 2002. Brian Flores has masterfully transformed the Minnesota Vikings defense into the NFL’s best after leading Miami to back-to-back winning seasons.

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Chicago could also look to the college market. Dan Lanning (Oregon) and Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame) are getting significant NFL interest. It will depend on how far Warren’s influence goes.