Do the Bears Know What They’re Doing?
The Chicago Bears are but one hamster on a series of wheels that keep the Chicago sports engine of mediocrity running. At this moment in time, they have an opportunity to break the cycle, but the last 14 years and counting have done little to inspire confidence from the Bears faithful.
Cyclical Mediocrity
Cyclical mediocrity is the norm when wading through the ether of Chicago sports. It’s not just the football team at Soldier Field. As of Wednesday evening, the Blackhawks are 14-28-2, dead last in the NHL in points (30). That comes on the heels of finishing second to last in the Western Conference last season.
The Bulls
The Bulls stand a shade better at 18-22 and currently occupy the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they’d qualify for the play-in tournament if the regular season ended today. But being slightly under .500 is their style. They finished 39-43 at the end of last year. 40-42 two seasons ago. Only once in the last nine years have the Bulls posted a winning season. That was in 2021-22 when they went 46-36. They were bounced in five games by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.
The Cubs
The Cubs have finished 83-79 in each of the last two seasons, a gargantuan improvement over the 74 and 71-win campaigns they posted in the two years prior to that. Apart from winning the 2016 World Series, the Cubs have won two playoff series in the last two decades.
The White Sox
This is the type of mind-numbing stuff Chicago sports fans deal with year in and year out. A never-ending cycle of, “How should I inflict pain upon myself today?” This is the type of mind-numbing stuff Chicago sports fans deal with year in and year out. A never-ending cycle of, “How should I inflict pain upon myself today?”
The Bears’ Coaching Search
At the time of this being written, 19 candidates have made it onto Chicago’s list of those to be considered for their head coaching vacancy. 12 of them have completed at least one interview. The Bears are “casting a wide net,” as front office personnel have said.
Casting a wide net is the process that’s been outlined by General Manager Ryan Poles, and if this were any other team in the NFC North, it would probably seem like the smart decision to make. Leave no stone unturned and gather the perspectives of as many people as you can so that the right candidate lands in your lap.
The Problem is, This is Chicago
This is Chicago, where leaving no stone unturned actually means the Bears’ front office will just be overwhelmed with information and make the wrong hire. Look at how their offensive coordinator search went last season after they went into “information-gathering mode.” Shane Waldron turned out so well, didn’t he?
The Answer is Right in Front of Them
What adds even more insult to injury is that Chicago doesn’t even need to be this exhaustive in their search. The answer is right in front of their face and if the Bears don’t want to take it from me, take it from the talented quarterback they stumbled backward into drafting.
“Yeah, I think even watching last night, knowing kind of what they’re going to be in a certain situation, and being able to go out there and execute like the pass they threw to Jahmyr [Gibbs] on [Andrew] Van Ginkel,” Williams said of Ben Johnson’s play-calling during the Detroit Lions 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18. The win earned Detroit the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and the NFC North division title.
Conclusion
All the Bears need to do is buck their last 14 years of being dysfunctional losers and make the right call. Only then can a little bit of the faith be restored.
FAQs
Q: Why is the Chicago sports scene plagued by mediocrity?
A: Cyclical mediocrity is the norm when wading through the ether of Chicago sports. It’s not just the football team at Soldier Field.
Q: What is the Bears’ coaching search like?
A: The Bears are “casting a wide net,” as front office personnel have said. 19 candidates have made it onto Chicago’s list of those to be considered for their head coaching vacancy. 12 of them have completed at least one interview.
Q: Who is the answer to the Bears’ coaching search?
A: The answer is right in front of their face and if the Bears don’t want to take it from me, take it from the talented quarterback they stumbled backward into drafting. Ben Johnson is the answer, and he’s already received glowing endorsements from the man they have entrusted the next decade of their franchise with.
