Let’s add another name to the list of Bears head coaching candidates. Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football (on Twitter), Chicago will interview Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for the vacancy. The interview is expected to be next week.
Allen was the head coach of the Raiders for two-plus seasons from 2012 to 2014. He collected an 8-24 record during his first two seasons at the helm, and an 0-4 start to the 2014 campaign led to his firing.
Obviously that record doesn’t inspire much confidence, but he’s done a great job rehabilitating his reputation in New Orleans since landing on Sean Payton’s staff in 2015. The Saints often had one of the worst defenses in the league before Allen’s arrival, and he stabilized the unit and turned them into an elite group the past few years. Allen also filled in as HC when Payton was forced to miss a game earlier this season.
The list of Bears HC candidates also includes:
- Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Interviewed 1/15
- Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed 1/16
- Matt Eberflus, defensive coordinator (Colts): To conduct second interview 1/24
- Brian Flores, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/14
- Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator (Bills): To interview 1/21
- Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/15
- Byron Leftwich, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Doug Pederson, former head coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/12
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Interview requested
He would be great as a HC
I really don’t understand what the Bears are doing or why they’re seemingly obsessed with hiring a defensive HC. We have a young QB that needs to be developed, and won’t be able to do so with a carousel at OC which is the way it goes if your HC isn’t offensive-minded/your OC. It’s like we’re purposely trying to screw this up.
A defensive minded coach is fine. As long as they have a solid plan in place as far as who they’re hiring at QB coach and OC positions.
Correct. Lovie Smith got the Bears to a title game with a QB less talented than Fields so there’s nothing wrong with hiring a defensive minded HC.
Ron Rivera got the Bears to the title game. It was the combo of the 46 defense and the Tampa 2 that got there. This is despite Lovie and his favorite all time offensive play, the punt.
Please. Lovie Smith set the tone for the entire team. That was his defense, his philosophy, with some concepts from Jim Johnson’s scheme.
In fact, you can still see elements of Lovie’s defense in Rivera’s own defense, and in Buffalo and Indianapolis.
Lovie Smith hated and detested the 46 defense one of the reasons Rivera got fired after the Super Bowl. Lovies defense was good as long as the Bears never faced a good QB. Hence Rodgers owning every single Bears coach since he took over the QB position. Ebertus doesn’t blitz nor is he aggressive at all. The fact that Lovie had 6 OCs in 9 years and went to the playoffs 1 time after firing Rivera speaks volumes. Lovie didn’t care that his GM flunked the first round so many times that he made Pace look like a genius with his 1st round picks.
The Bears never ran a 46 defense, and certainly not during the SB year. The LBs and DBs combined for four sacks.
And Ron Rivera may blitz more than Lovie Smith, but he does not run a 46 scheme or even blitz that often in stops since Bears. You can’t find a single article that talks about Ron Rivera running a 46 scheme, but you will find plenty that talk about this desire to rush with four, and using his middle linebackers in the same way Lovie used his.
Stop making up your own reality.
Sean McDermott is a defensive-minded head coach and Brian Daboll is doing wonders with Josh Allen.
Having a defensive-minded head coach isn’t a prerequisite for having a carousel at offensive coordinator
It is when you hire a DC who is completely unable to hire an OC like both Flores and Lovie
The Bears need a CEO who can build an identity for the team and command respect from all players.
The last two times they went offense, they got guys who were so obsessed with play-calling and the quarterback, they forgot that they were supposed to be leading and creating an identity for the entire team.
Offense, defense, special teams, don’t care so long as they get a leader. And a leader will find the right offensive staff.
100%! They’re morons and this feels all too familiar!!
I can’t figure out what McCaskey is doing. What legit GM candidate is gonna take a job where the head coach has already been hired without his input? Especially if the coach is hired by the arguably most clueless owner in the NFL?
I would think the ever widening list is a clue that they don’t know what they want. Maybe they are just waiting for Harbaugh and will give roster authority and he hires his own GM
My guess is, this name came from a list from a GM candidate. No one has Allen on the radar.
That tells me they are doing things right, and taking input already from a potential GM.
The most underrated coordinator.
I’d hire an offensive guy – as you need to figure out what you have (or don’t have) at QB.
It’s an offensive league you need an offensive mind
This guy was terrible with the Raiders. What makes the Bears think he got better.
WTF Georgie? Can’t you get anything right.
That they had to have 79 year old Bill Polian come in to do interviews, shows they are clueless.
What difference does it make how old he is?