On Christmas Day, a bombshell report emerged indicating that former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is interested in the Chicago Bears’ vacancy. Interestingly enough, the Bears are playing the Seahawks on a special Boxing Day edition of Thursday Night Football in Week 17. Carroll would be an interesting fit in Chicago.
Former Seahawks Super-Bowl winning HC Pete Carroll has expressed interest in the Bears HC job and would like to return to the sideline next season, league sources tell ESPN.
Carroll is one of four head coaches to have led teams to both a national championship and the Super… pic.twitter.com/qs6g4v1lTA
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 25, 2024
The Bears relieved Matt Eberflus of his duties earlier this campaign. Interim head coach Thomas Brown hasn’t improved the struggling offense enough to garner realistic consideration to earn the gig on a full-time basis. The Bears will conduct a thorough search for Eberflus’ successor and Carroll could emerge as an intriguing candidate.
A perennial loser, the Bears face legitimate questions about their ownership and leadership structure. But the presence of rookie No. 1 overall quarterback Caleb Williams makes their vacancy an appealing one. It’s rare that bad teams with coaching openings have a franchise QB on the roster. Williams will make Chicago’s job a desirable one this offseason.
And Carroll is the type of proven, experienced leader that would be a terrific fit for their organization.
Carroll apparently possesses a burning desire to return to coaching. The 73-year-old Super Bowl and National Championship winner departed the Seahawks this past offseason after 14 successful seasons in charge. The organization positioned the change as mutual, transitioning Carroll into an unclear “advisory” role. The more time that passed, the more it became clear that it wasn’t exactly mutual. The Seahawks wanted to make a change.
It’ll be interesting to monitor if Chicago takes Carroll’s approach seriously. Potential alternative candidates include Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. When the Seahawks take the field versus the Bears on Thursday, it’s possible that they’ll be squaring off with Carroll’s next team.
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