Reasons Bears Wouldn’t Pursue Jim Harbaugh…
Analysis: Expecting Jim Harbaugh to wind up in Chicago as head coach of the Bears isn’t being entirely realistic.

The lobbying on behalf of the Bears by various fans and media through social media and talk shows for signing Jim Harbaugh as coach has gone on for what seems like ages.

Every time the Bears have a coaching change, there is an outcry for Harbaugh.

So the 1987 Bears first-round draft pick now has his long-sought national title. His next step must be a return to the NFL, the logic goes. After all, he succeeded in winning in a short NFL coaching career but failed to get the Lombardi Trophy because of his brother’s team, the Baltimore Ravens.

The argument goes Harbaugh would now leave Michigan because he has nothing else to prove and he has said he has “unfinished business” in the NFL. He did try to get back into the league last year with a couple of interviews.

The logical tie to the Bears as his first NFL team and a respect he has for the George Halas family and Bears tradition cannot be denied.

Expecting Harbaugh to be hired as the team’s head coach is borderline dreaming, however.

Here’s why:

1. There is a Bears coach
They haven’t fired anyone at this point. With the exception of losing the finale against Green Bay, coach Matt Eberflus accomplished as much as could be expected in Year 2 with the talent provided. Especially after they were 2-7, to finish by winning five out of eight is very solid work. There are still areas where improvement is critical, like the entire passing game and the pass rush. But they did establish an identity, a foundation and began winning games in Year 2 after gutting the franchise. Simply firing Eberflus because another popular name is available makes little sense because there are always popular names out there available. If you don’t give the people you hire a legitimate chance to prove themselves, what kind of an organization is that?

2. GM Ryan Poles
It must be assumed Harbaugh is going to want to have say in personnel matters. If you don’t assume it, then you’re living in a fantasy world. Coaches who win national titles and come to the NFL want this. When a coach has been in control of his program, why would he leave one where he is responsible for getting his own talent and leave it in the hands of someone else? The Bears could have had a solution to something like this when they sought to hire Nick Saban out of LSU before the 2004 season because former GM Jerry Angelo was Saban’s friend. If friends can’t work together then who could? But Poles is from the Kansas City Chiefs and not from Harbaugh’s old 49ers teams. Hiring him two years ago and putting him in charge, only to take away his power and let Harbaugh have final say would again be the kind of thing to give the organization a bad name, or one worse than it might already have.

3. Michigan
Just because he won one national title, he wants to leave now? This isn’t really logical, unless it was his goal to win one national title and leave. No one has ever said it was.

He’s been at Michigan since 2015 and finally has the program at a level where it’s beating Ohio State and even the SEC champion, and he’s just going to simply walk away from it when it coudl become a dynasty type of situation like Nick Saban has had at Alabama?

4. Competition
Assuming the Bears really did want to hire Harbaugh and fire Eberflus as a result—and that’s an unrealistic assumption—they aren’t necessarily even favorites to sign Harbaugh.

There will reportedly be competition from the Raiders, possibly Washington and the L.A. Chargers.

Harbaugh coached in California before and he also felt an allegiance with the Davis family because his first job as an assistant was with the Raiders. He reportedly coveted the Chargers job last year when he was interviewed by the Broncos and Vikings. But the Chargers had their coach.

5. Moolah
Harbaugh’s brother, John, is making $12 million a year to coach the Ravens acccording to NBC Sports. He’s not in the top five but close at sixth. According to Sports Illustrated’s Thomas Neumann, Michigan attempted to sign Harbaugh to a 10-year deal averaging $12.5 million a year.

Exact figures for what the Bears are paying Matt Eberflus haven’t been published but the estimate used most often was $4.5 million based on how new NFL coaches have averaged $3 million to $5 million a year

So the Bears can hire Harbaugh for more than $12.5 million a year or continue with Eberflus for $4.5 million a year and he seems to be on course for success.

This isn’t to rekindle the decades old talk about the Bears being cheap, but it just doens’t follow in line with their character to throw money at someone when they have a coach making much less who they seem to believe will win.

The Bear’s Den, January 9, 2023

Black Monday has come and gone with no changes at Halas Hall… yet, anyway…

WE WANT YOU!

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THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS
Grading Chicago’s Final Exam: Nobody Passed – Da Bears Blog – If the Bears’ visit to Green Bay was intended to represent a benchmark for their 2023 season’s progress, they failed their final exam quite emphatically.

Jaylon Johnson ‘confident’ he’ll reach extension with Bears – 670 – After the conclusion of a season in which he requested a trade but went nowhere and with free agency looming as a possibility, Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson expects that he’ll reach a contract extension with the Bears this offseason.

Cody Whitehair: Bears are ‘heading in the right direction’ – 670 – After playing eight seasons in Chicago, offensive lineman Cody Whitehair is bullish on the Bears’ future — even as he understands he may not be a part of it.

Montez Sweat would ‘love’ for Bears to retain Matt Eberflus – 670 – As Bears management ponders the team’s future, star pass rusher Montez Sweat is among those inside the locker room who hope that head coach Matt Eberflus will return for a third season in Chicago.

Moore doesn’t think that was Fields’ ‘last rodeo’ with Bears – 670 – Bears quarterback Justin Fields clearly is aware of the possibility that he might’ve played his final game with Chicago, but top receiver DJ Moore seems to believe that Fields will be back for the 2024 season.

Bears teammates also waiting out decision on Justin Fields – Chicago Sun-Times – The Fields support starts in the Bears locker room, where teammates have expressed admiration for their QB and lobbied for his return.

Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s status shaky as player frustration mounts – Chicago Sun-Times – Reading between the lines on players’ comments, it’s clear they think the offense should’ve been better this season.

Cody Whitehair plans to play in 2024 — whether for Bears or not – Chicago Sun-Times – The Bears’ longest-tenured player made a point of looking around Lambeau Field before kickoff Sunday. He knew the game could be his last with the Bears.

Column: Chicago Bears coaching, QB decisions require brutal honesty – Chicago Tribune – The Chicago Bears’ decision on coach Matt Eberflus likely will be intertwined with a direction for an offense that failed to make appropriate gains this season.

Bears WR DJ Moore advocates for Justin Fields in exit meeting, but open to change – Chicago Sun-Times – Drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 pick could mean a difficult reset for the Bears, but it could be best for them in the long run.

Bears players express belief in the foundation: ‘The arrow is pointing up’ – The Athletic – As Bears players cleaned out their lockers, they sounded hopeful about the future and supportive of coach Matt Eberflus.

10 Quick Thoughts: Justin Fields and the Bears lost two big chances in Green Bay – CHGO – Justin Fields and the Bears could’ve controlled the narrative heading into the offseason, but failed in a listless performance against Green Bay.

The Bears need some major offensive changes after latest loss to the Packers – CHGO Sports – With the Chicago Bears’ latest loss to the Green Bay Packers, there needs to be major changes to the offense moving forward.

Tyson Bagent reflects on whirlwind rookie season, Justin Fields relationship – NBC Sports Chicago – Tyson Bagent’s whirlwind year from D-II legend to unlikely NFL starter can to an end Monday. But that just means the start of the next step in the Bears…

DJ Moore wants Justin Fields to stay Bears QB, not 2024 NFL rookie – NBC Sports Chicago – Bears GM Ryan Poles can use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Aaron Rodgers will be as involved in personnel as Jets want him to be – NBC Sports – For all his skills as a pro quarterback, Aaron Rodgers is not a good amateur General Manager.

Kirk Cousins plans to “relinquish” to his upcoming free agency – NBC Sports – He wants to win, and he thinks it can happen in Minnesota.

Montez Sweat led both the Commanders and the Bears in sacks this season – NBC Sports – Montez Sweat accomplished something unprecedented in NFL history this season: He led two different teams in sacks.

Dan Hampton among 19 players and 3 coaches voted into College Football Hall of Fame – Chicago Sun-Times – Hampton was also the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.

Bears GM Ryan Poles could be looking for help as Ian Cunningham draws outside interest – Chicago Sun-Times – Cunningham, the Bears’ assistant general manager, interviewed for two openings a year ago and turned down a job offer from the Cardinals.

To stay, Bears’ Matt Eberflus needs to provide answers, starting with QB – Chicago Sun-Times – Eberflus said he looked forward to meeting with his bosses. Their questioning of him should begin with the hottest topic in Chicago: Justin Fields.

Comparing quarterback histories of Bears, Packers really is embarrassing – Chicago Sun-Times – Think about it. Twenty-seven seasons in which a Packers quarterback threw for more yards than any Bears quarterback has in the 104 years of the team’s existence. Twenty-seven times.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Report: Chargers request to interview Steve Wilks, Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Todd Monken – NBC Sports – The Chargers have started the process of replacing Brandon Staley, who they fired as head coach Dec. 15.

Panthers announce nine candidates for head coaching job, eight for G.M. – NBC Sports – The Panthers announced the nine coaching candidates they have requested to interview and the eight General Manager candidates under consideration.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Bear & Balanced: Packers still own the Bears – Windy City Gridiron – The Chicago Bears lost their tenth consecutive game to the Green Bay Packers and Jeff & Lester get to talk about it here.

Chicago Bears sign 10 players to reserve/future contracts – Windy City Gridiron – The Bears bring several practice squadders back on their offseaosn roster.

NFL Black Monday: News and rumor tracker – Windy City Gridiron – All the news and rumors surrounding Black Monday in the NFL.

Infante: 2024 Bears mock draft – Year-end predictions – Windy City Gridiron – WCG’s lead draft analyst shares his latest mock draft now that the Bears’ season has come to an end.

Wiltfong: Bears vs Packers – Inside the snap counts, stats, and more – Windy City Gridiron – Here are all the snap counts for the Chicago Bears, a spotlight on some of their individual statistics, and a few team stats from Chicago’s latest L to the Packers.

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