Report suggests that there is talk of the Bears and other teams considering trades to acquire head coach Mike Tomlin.
Following the conclusion of this season, the Chicago Bears may find themselves in search of a new head coach. Several potential candidates have emerged, including Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Washington Commanders' Eric Bieniemy, and even the University of Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh, if he decides to venture back into the NFL.
However, an interesting twist has surfaced. The Athletic's Dianna Russini recently hinted that the Bears could explore the possibility of trading for a new head coach. Russini noted that Mike Tomlin's contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers is set to expire in 2024, and the Steelers traditionally refrain from contract extension discussions with players or coaches during the season. As a result, there has been speculation that the Steelers might entertain offers to trade Tomlin to teams like Washington, Chicago, or even Carolina in exchange for draft picks.
This revelation adds an intriguing dimension to the situation. The current Bears head coach, Matt Eberflus, has faced challenges in meeting expectations this season. Various events, including the untimely departure of defensive coordinator Alan Williams, the unsuccessful Chase Claypool experiment, and the firing of running backs coach David Walker, have cast doubt on Eberflus's future with the team. Additionally, the lack of development in quarterback Justin Fields' performance has raised questions about the coaching staff's effectiveness. The Bears currently stand at 5-9 and have suffered several painful losses, including three blown fourth-quarter double-digit leads this season.
As for the possibility of Eberflus being relieved of his duties by the Bears, it wouldn't come as a surprise. Whether the team decides to retain or release him, it will be a significant decision that carries significant implications.
The concept of trading for head coaches is relatively rare but not unheard of in the NFL. Last offseason, the Denver Broncos acquired Sean Payton by trading a first- and third-round pick to the New Orleans Saints to release him from his contract. Three years earlier, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded a sixth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for Bruce Arians. The most famous instance occurred in 1970 when the Miami Dolphins traded a first-round pick to the Baltimore Colts for Don Shula.
In the case of the Bears, they have the draft capital to consider trading for Tomlin, with a total of 21 draft picks over the next three seasons (six in 2024, eight in 2025, and seven in 2026). Acquiring Tomlin's services could be seen as a worthwhile investment. Tomlin, aged 51, has been the head coach of the Steelers since 2007, leading them to the playoffs 10 times and securing a Super Bowl victory in 2008. Impressively, he has never presided over a losing season during his tenure with the Steelers, consistently achieving winning records.
Comparatively, the Bears have experienced far fewer successes over the same period, making the playoffs only three times, with just four winning records in the past 17 seasons and cycling through five different head coaches.
The prospect of Mike Tomlin joining the Chicago Bears is undoubtedly appealing to Bears fans, but as of the current report, it remains an unlikely outcome, according to Russini's information.
Before contemplating such a move, the Bears would first need to decide on the future of Matt Eberflus. Would they be willing to part ways with their current head coach just two years after his appointment? This decision will shape the path the Bears take in the coming seasons.
| POLL | ||
23 DECEMBRE | 142 ANSWERS Report suggests that there is talk of the Bears and other teams considering trades to acquire head coach Mike Tomlin. Is Mike Tomlin worth trading for? | ||
| Yes | 80 | 56.3 % |
| No | 62 | 43.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
