8:45pm: Another name can be added to the list of Bears OC targets. Chicago interviewed Seahawks QBs coach Greg Olson yesterday, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle notes. Olson took his Seattle position last year after a single season with the Rams. The 60-year-old has served as a coordinator with the Lions, Rams, Buccaneers, Jaguars and – in two separate stints – Raiders. He thus profiles as a candidate with considerable experience as Chicago looks for a Getsy replacement.
Olson had not been connected to an OC posting this offseason before the Bears interview, but he has remained on the coordinator radar when holding other roles in the NFL. He interviewed with the Chargers last year before ultimately taking his current Seahawks gig. It will be interesting to see how much interest he gets from other teams in 2024 should more coordinator roles become available.
10:31am: The Bears are looking towards the NCAA to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports that Kentucky offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Liam Coen is expected to interview for Chicago’s OC job.
After spending time in the Northeast college circuit, Coen has bounced between the Rams and Kentucky in recent years. He spent two years as the Rams assistant wide receivers coach before earning the role of assistant quarterbacks coach in 2020. He left to become Kentucky’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2021 before returning to Los Angeles to replace Kevin O’Connell as the offensive coordinator.
The Rams offense struggled with Coen at the helm in 2022. The offense finished the season ranked 27th in points and last in yards, although that was partly due to the Rams starting four different players under center.
Coen went back to his previous role at Kentucky for the 2023 campaign and helped guide the offense to several improvements. Kentucky ultimately finished the season ranked 23rd in red zone TD percentage, 40th in yards per play, and 51st in points per drive (h/t to Adam Luckett of KSR).
Chicago is looking for a replacement for Luke Getsy, who was fired earlier this week. 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak has already emerged as a candidate for the open job.
Perfect. Interview a guy that struggled with the Rams in ‘22. Last in yards? That’ll jump start that offense.
Really, that sounds like something the Bears would EXACTLY do..
I agree
Why bears why ? Do you owe this guy ? Does he have pictures?
He has pix of poles and eberflus 69ing
Time for the Bears to buck the trend of the lower price for your staff and get a guy who can work with Fields and build a consistently good offense (and has proven to have been above average in the past) damn the expense. With this Bears D all the Bears need an offense that can consistently move down the field and focus on scoring 7 instead of getting within the 40 and then being ready to put Santos out there for a FG. Last season, with a goofy OC calling three screens in a row and also refusing to have Fields throw ‘jump balls’ to his TEs in the End zone, the Bears still showed this offense can be productive from time to time. Just need someone to work with Fields, fix or reduce the effects of his flaws, and build his confidence that he can get the ball to the correct spot, and that his receiver will be the one there to catch or fight for it. Then, if he still stinks, fans hope Poles did well in trades to trade down in the draft for a, or more, 1st rounder(s) in 2025 from a team, or teams, that looks like Carolina did this season.. With the Patriots and Commanders to trade down to (and still get a guy like MHJ) that should not be hard to see a top 5, if not overall #1, from either of these teams who have new coaches coming in with little talent on their rosters for next season (and I think new GMs as well).
The Bears kept some of Getsy’s offensive assistants. Not all were fired. So whoever comes in at OC will have to work with them, which is backwards.
For the kids sake I hope the Bears trade the #1 pick, would hate to watch them screw up a talented qb prospect.
I heard that more than half of the QBs picked #1 overall bust out anyway.. ‘Superman’ Williams screams bust to me, and Im not sold on another NC QB. Let other teams sell the farm to Poles for the chance to get either one. But not too far down to miss out on MHJ. a game changer can help a QB and offense immensely and MHJ looks to fit that bill. Ask Mahomes (whose offense is sputtering in KC) and Tua in Miami how valuable Tyreek Hill is.
If they want MHJ they will probably have to use the #1 pick for him. The likely trade partners will be too far down to get him.
I think they can get a decent package from both the Patriots and Commanders to move up to #1, they both are rebuilding orgs, one with a new owner, who likely want to make a splash move. Even if the Bears ‘only’ get the first rounder next season and first rounder next, it stands to reason both teams will be miserably bad so the Bears could wind up with a top 5 pick next season, wven though, they should be fighting for a playoff spot.The Bears could go for a haul, but if Im Poles Im also looking for the team that will also likely be godawful next season too.
That could happen if the Pat’s or Washington get QB FOMO for their guy.
The problem the Bears have is what legitimate OC is going to want to join a staff with a lame duck coach? Like cool you get to work with either an athletic freak like Fields or one of the top QBs in the draft but if this team doesn’t continue on an upward trend or struggles out of the gate Flus will be fired and likely you’ll be out with him. The Bears don’t fire coaches mid season so it’s not like any candidate will get a chance as an interim HC.
If the Bears are desperate enough to consider Greg Olsen they might as well have a chat with Jay Cutler too.