by Justin Melo
NFL
Should Bears Trade For Their Next HC?
The Chicago Bears are in the midst of their most important head coaching cycle in franchise history. The organization dismissed Matt Eberflus following a botched clock-management situation against the Detroit Lions. With rookie quarterback Caleb Williams' development at the forefront of their search, the Bears should be willing to get creative, and that could mean acquiring their next head coach via trade.
ProFootballTalk recently floated an idea involving a trade between the Bears and San Francisco 49ers for Kyle Shanahan. The 5-7 49ers are enduring an incredibly disappointing campaign. They're in last place in the NFC West and appear primed to miss the postseason. That could lead to change in San Francisco. Could a three-time conference champion like Shanahan become available?
As the 49ers prepare to face the Bears, Kyle Shanahan praises QB Caleb Williams. (Which might have separate relevance, given my spitball idea that seems to be catching on about the Bears' coaching search.) https://t.co/48grBjJM6U
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 5, 2024
San Francisco's championship window is arguably closing. Aging, injury-riddled stars like Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and Deebo Samuel won't be around forever. A lucrative extension for quarterback Brock Purdy looms large and will have a franchise-altering impact on the make-up of the rest of the roster. There's some credence to the thought that both Shanahan and the 49ers would benefit from a fresh start.
It's a must to acknowledge how rare an active coaching trade is. The days when Jon Gruden, Bill Belichick, and Bill Parcells were traded are in the distant past. The latest example saw Sean Payton dealt from New Orleans to Denver, but that situation was unique. Payton had spent the 2022 campaign out of football altogether, so it's not like the Saints traded their active head coach.
It certainly doesn't feel like the type of ultra-aggressive decision the Bears are known for making. This season was the first in their 105-year history that they pulled the trigger on in-season coaching changes at offensive coordinator and head honcho. Ownership is typically known for being frugal and reserved in its operations, but Williams' presence and the precipice of success should lead CEO Kevin Warren to do some outside-the-box thinking.
.@ColinCowherd's advice to the Chicago Bears:
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 4, 2024
"I would give up multiple picks for Kyle Shanahan." pic.twitter.com/TpyPqFrZyk
Pairing Shanahan with Williams would be electric. Despite this season's struggles, Shanahan is one of the most dynamic leaders in the league with a proven resume of success. His offensive-minded approach would work wonders for Williams' potential ascension to MVP-caliber quarterback.
Shanahan has never been afforded an opportunity to develop a quarterback as talented as Williams in San Francisco. Despite that, he's routinely elevated and maximized the QB play. Shanahan deserves partial blame for initially missing on his evaluations of Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance before getting lucky with Purdy, but he wouldn't be tasked with choosing the quarterback this time around. He'd be inheriting what was often described as a generational prospect throughout the pre-draft process.
Significant draft capital would be required to acquire Shanahan from San Francisco. The Bears are currently equipped with an extra second-rounder in 2025, and own their original first and third-round selections as well. Chicago has notable roster holes, but those picks matter a little less when you’ve already found your franchise quarterback. Furthermore, they’re scheduled to possess $82 million in cap space this offseason, the fifth-most of any team, per OverTheCap. That would provide the Bears with enough financial flexibility to help offset having fewer picks with veteran acquisitions.
The Bears aren't viewed as an aggressive go-getter franchise. With a potentially elite quarterback rostered for the first time in a long time, it would now be appropriate to alter their operating methods. No stone should be left unturned throughout this hiring cycle. Acquiring Shanahan would be bold, but the risk qualifies as worthwhile.