There is no shortage of quality head coach candidates for the Chicago Bears to peruse this cycle. Most fans are hoping for Ben Johnson, which isn’t a surprise. However, there is widespread belief among NFL people that the best option out there is Mike Vrabel. The former Tennessee Titans head coach had four winning seasons in six years with what many feel was a middling roster. He’s still only in his 40s and appears eager for his next opportunity. His big personality, disciplined style, and attention to detail all sound like things this organization desperately needs.
He even has ties to the organization. GM Ryan Poles was a scout in Kansas City, where Vrabel finished his playing career. Both have a relationship with former GM Scott Pioli. Recently, Zack Blatt of The Athletic wrote a detailed article about the former head coach and what he’s hoping for with his next opportunity. Inevitably, the question came up about what his preferences will be. Two criteria stood out the most, both of which indicate the Bears won’t be in consideration.
“There’s got to be clear communication with ownership, so that we understand as coaches what the expectations are,” Vrabel said. “That’s so we can explain to them what’s reasonable, what we can do, what we probably can do and what we’re going to try to do — or die trying. I want to have a structure in place that people see the game the same way I do from an X’s and O’s standpoint, from a personnel standpoint, with team-building. We would hopefully have that alignment, which is critical.
“And I would like to be able to say that there’s a quarterback that you feel like you can win with — or that there’s a path to find the one that you can win with.”
Direct communication with ownership is not something the McCaskey family has offered in their entire history of running the team. They’ve made it clear there is a hierarchy involved with this organization. It goes head coach, GM, team president, and then owner. If the coach wants something, they must speak to the GM and president. The McCaskeys prefer to be hands-off. That probably won’t suit Vrabel well since a lack of communication will make it difficult for him to understand the franchise’s aims.
The alignment part is basically fancy speak for wanting to work with a GM he knows and trusts. While he might be familiar with Poles, Mike Vrabel probably does not know him personally, as he might know others. Unless the two somehow hit it off from the first meeting, it feels as if the coach might prefer bringing in somebody he wants. It feels like the Bears can’t offer him what he seeks compared to other locations like New York and probably Las Vegas. Maybe something changes, but it feels like Vrabel won’t be a contender for the job.
