Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald has attracted the attention of NFL teams for a long time, and his stock continues to soar. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Fitzgerald can expect formal requests for interviews after the Wildcats’ bowl game, and two NFL teams already inquired about his availability in the wake of Northwestern’s Big Ten Championship Game loss yesterday.
A source tells Schefter that nine NFL teams have expressed interest in Fitzgerald over the past five years, though the 46-year-old has thus far resisted the call from the professional ranks. In January 2019, he said he was not interested in NFL jobs, and there have been no concrete reports to suggest that he has changed his mind. Indeed, he has coached Northwestern (his alma mater) for 15 seasons, and he has repeatedly referred to the position as his “dream job.”
In November, we heard that the pandemic and the toll it has taken on collegiate athletic departments could make some high-profile college coaches more receptive to a move to the NFL, but it’s unclear if Fitzgerald feels that way. As Schefter observes, the ACC recently hired former Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips as its next commissioner, and Fitzgerald and Phillips enjoyed a strong relationship over their 12 years together. Theoretically, Phillips’ departure could make Fitzgerald more amenable to leaving Evanston if the right NFL opportunity presents itself.
Fitzgerald has been connected to the Panthers and Packers in the past, and he is seen as the Bears’ top choice for HC if Chicago fires Matt Nagy. Fitzgerald does live close to the Bears’ training facility, and team ownership has been eyeing him for awhile. Previous rumors have indicated that the Bears’ HC gig is the one NFL post he would seriously consider.
Bears have a great defence, 1 really good WR in Robinson and nice RB in Cohen and sit 1 game under .500.
For many years the story remains the same they just need a franchise QB. I don’t think Nagy is the right coach and maybe the Bears should look at their options.
You haven’t watched the Bears lately, I see. Cohen has been hurt for a long time and the defense is underperforming.
A leadership change is needed. Is Fitzgerald the guy? I hope so.
I more or less meant if your a coach evaluating the Bears you’d see they have part of a good team. I know they have underperformed and that Cohen has been out but next season if your the coach you’d be looking to quickly turn those things around.
The main issue for an incoming coach is finding the franchise QB
Montgomery is actually having a better year then Cohen. Cohen is a change of pace back/3rd down back. But Montgomery has more catches.. so there’s that. Bears offense needs retooling. And the defense needs a #1 corner. But it’s def not the worst job out there. Especially when u don’t have to uproot ur live to go coach there. Ur family literally just trades in purple for blue and orange.
If the Bears win out Nagy will return but maybe Pace might not because past drafts but I’ll put it at 50/50 McCaskies are loyal to White coach’s can’t believe Lovie was fired one year after a super bowl ever hear of that before.
Just because the Lions want to take the backward approach doesn’t mean the Bears should too. Let’s get a replacement at GM before we start interviewing HC candidates.
He’s gonna want a Rhule contract. Either show me huge money or I’ll stay where I am and continue to be comfortable
And who can blame him?
He did good work in the Valerie Plame investigation.
Nice, although it might go over some heads here. Much like his brother Scott writing one of the great American novels
Zero chance he goes to the NFL.
What incentive does he have to leave? He’s made Northwestern into a really good program, and even in their down years they’ve stuck by him. It’s one of those jobs where just being a good team is exceeding expectations, and I’m sure he’d love to ride it out with his alma mater.
If he leaves for the NFL, he’d face much higher expectations and probably wouldn’t end up in a great situation. Some NFL team would have to pay him so much money that it wouldn’t even make sense.
Why coach the Bears? They have had 16 different qb’s since Brett Favre started for the Packers and since that time they have two, count them, two qb’s in 25 yrs. one’s in the HOF and the other will be. Meanwhile the Bears continue to look for that “franchise qb”. I would not want that job. Fitzgerald has a good gig at Northwestern he really has no reason to leave.
Why the Bears…. He would not have to move his family. This job would be the only job I could see Fitzgerald going for. However, it doesn’t sound as if he wants to leave(although is AD got a promotion in the ACC).
fitzgerald is very loyal obviously, so with the ad leaving, i see him staying to make sure nw remains steady. can’t seem him and the ad gone just like that and then him being right there to watch nw go back to being the old nw.