Few understand the frustration of the Chicago Bears’ futility at head coach more than Cole Kmet. He arrived in 2020 right as the Matt Nagy train was coming off the tracks. He went from that to Matt Eberflus, who has a case for being the worst head coach in franchise history. Kmet hasn’t been shy about showing his frustration at how the Bears have been stuck in the mud for years, unable to get over the hump to become a winner. As he approaches the peak of his career, the tight end knows his time is running out. If he is ever going even to sniff a Super Bowl, the next coaching hire has to be a hit.
Adam Hoge of CHGO relayed a question to Kmet on The 85 Podcast. What is he looking for in a head coach? The tight end didn’t need long to formulate his answer. It boiled down to three main categories: self-confidence, decision-making, and a message they believe in enough to sell to everybody else.
Eberflus didn’t check all of those boxes when he was in charge, especially in the decision-making category. The last head coach to do so was probably Lovie Smith. One of the biggest problems the Bears have had over the past ten years is the failure to find a coach who can command a room. You need a strong personality to get so many alpha males to buy into your message. Marc Trestman didn’t have it. John Fox may have had it once, but he was getting older by the time he arrived. Matt Nagy had the presence. Unfortunately, he never really seemed to have a singular message that he believed in.
The Bears are hoping to finally secure somebody who hits the trifecta. If they succeed, this team is talented enough to take some of the best in the NFC. Cole Kmet has no control over the search to come. All he can do is offer his input if asked for. One can safely assume the team brass will ask the locker room about what happened with Eberflus and how it can be avoided next time. Hopefully, they will listen.
