If the top 3 choices for the Bears really are Johnson, Monken and McCarthy....

[Mighty Joe Young]

Can anyone remember a time when the Bears were in the mix for arguably the top, hottest candidates in a coaching cycle?

I was talking about this with a co-worker, and usually the Bears are fishing from the B or C tier of coaches, getting turned down left and right, etc when they go to hire a coach.

But I would argue that nationally, Johnson is the hottest candidate out there in terms of popularity and interest, McCarthy is up there as well, and while Monken is a little bit of a sleeper, he seems to have caught fire lately and is on par with Coen and Brady as well as the aforementioned coaches. Combine that with Vrabel, who went to New England, and I would classify that bunch as "Tier A" or the top tier. Doesn't mean that they will all work out, but that seems to be the coaches everyone is talking about this cycle as being ready and deserving for a shot or another shot at HC.

True that the Bears were interviewing everyone and their mothers up until this point.

But if their finalists do end up being Johnson, Monken, and McCarthy, and they land one of those 3 - would this be the best finalist list you guys can remember in Bears history at least since Ditka and the Superbowl win? I feel like its a somewhat recent thing (last 20 years or so) where even knowing who the finalists for the job are even became a thing...

 

[Midway Fields]

Probably. But the bar has been so low, who cares. Participation trophy!

Get the hire right one time!!!

 

[ZOMBIE@CTESPN]

Being in mix for these top candidates isn’t anything to brag about. It’s a bad hiring cycle with no clear cut top choice. I believe Naggy was the hottest candidate when he was hired but that was awhile ago not sure

 

[bearsfan1977]

I agree. This is a good cycle for teams who need a HC. Of course, we never know how any of these candidates will turn out. But that’s how it is every year.

 

[dennehy]

Matt Nagy was the top candidate in that cycle iirc, or at least right near the top.

 

[wonky73]

Nagy was one of the hot candidates and believe or not so was Wanny

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Matt Nagy was the top candidate in that cycle iirc, or at least right near the top.

True, but at the same time, Bears hired him right after he directly cost them a playoff game.

And before people claim Ben Johnson did the same, Ben had 1 bad call and a QB playing like ass, and the Lions still scored 31 points. Matt Nagy's Chief's team scored 21.

 

[truthbedamned]

Monken for me.

 

[bears51/40]

Probably. But the bar has been so low, who cares. Participation trophy!

Get the hire right one time!!!

I would say Johnson is at the top of everyone's list hope Bears can snag him. If the Bears can't, all we can speculate is that it will be an offensive minded HC. Who knows if the Bears are smart enough to get this right.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Nagy was one of the hot candidates and believe or not so was Wanny

Wanny was the last one I could remember, but back then, I feel like we didn't know who the finalists were. We just woke up and there was Wanny.


What I am pretty much saying though, is Nagy was 1 guy, Wanny was one guy.

We might have a finalist list where we could be comfortable with any of the 3, if this is indeed the finalist list.

That's what is astounding to me: there's no "oh, how did he make it to the final round; I hope the Bears don't pick him!" on the list.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

1: Fat Boy
2: Monken
3: Kliff
4: BJ

 

[bears51/40]

Monken for me.

For me if not Johnson Monken would be my second choice.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

1: Fat Boy
2: Monken
3: Kliff
4: BJ

Kliff's work as Cardinals HC knocks him out of the top tier for me.

 

[HeHateMe]

Being in mix for these top candidates isn’t anything to brag about. It’s a bad hiring cycle with no clear cut top choice. I believe Naggy was the hottest candidate when he was hired but that was awhile ago not sure

He was. And fatty Joe had a conversation with a coworker about it and then made a thread for that too

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

He was. And fatty Joe had a conversation with a coworker about it and then made a thread for that too

Your hater rage tears are delicious.

 

[Luke]

Matt Nagy was the top candidate in that cycle iirc, or at least right near the top.

and Wanny was the big coup back with Mikey

 

[DanielCCSBears]

Monken is interviewing with the Bears and Jacksonville that's not a hot candidate. Monken wasn't a candidate until the Bears made him one.

McCarthy is only available because Jerry Jones thinks he can do better.

Bears fans have deluded themselves into believing Monken is the next Bruce Arians.

If McCarthy goes with New Orleans and Johnson the Raiders and the Bears are left with Monken there's not really a win here for Chicago.

 

[bearsfan1977]

Monken is interviewing with the Bears and Jacksonville that's not a hot candidate. Monken wasn't a candidate until the Bears made him one.

McCarthy is only available because Jerry Jones thinks he can do better.

Bears fans have deluded themselves into believing Monken is the next Bruce Arians.

If McCarthy goes with New Orleans and Johnson the Raiders and the Bears are left with Monken there's not really a win here for Chicago.

And many people have deluded themselves into thinking Johnson is the next McVay.

 

[msadows]

Alright boys, there is the stamp of approval for monken being a good coach.

Daniel shitting on someone GUARANTEES their success.

 

[bearsfan1977]

Monken is interviewing with the Bears and Jacksonville that's not a hot candidate. Monken wasn't a candidate until the Bears made him one.

McCarthy is only available because Jerry Jones thinks he can do better.

Bears fans have deluded themselves into believing Monken is the next Bruce Arians.

If McCarthy goes with New Orleans and Johnson the Raiders and the Bears are left with Monken there's not really a win here for Chicago.

And how exactly did the Bears make Monken a hot candidate? How exactly does that work? Please expound.