Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2018 15:17:01 GMT -6
Bears meet with Pat Shurmur, completing interviews in Minnesota
The Bears wrapped up their trip to Minnesota on Friday after interviewing Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for the vacant head-coaching position.
Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards met with the Bears on Thursday and was the second candidate to meet with the club after Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was interviewed Wednesday. Next up are believed to be Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo.
Shurmur probably has the best chance to be hired of the three candidates who have met with the team so far. He has emerged as a popular head-coaching candidate for his work with quarterback Case Keenum this season, and three other teams are considering him. Shurmur met with the Lions and Cardinals on Thursday and is expected to meet with the Giants on Saturday.
The 52-year-old Shurmur had a 9-23 record as head coach of the Browns in 2011-12, a record that would be celebrated in Cleveland the last few seasons. He went from there to the Eagles, where he picked up some offensive concepts from Chip Kelly. The Vikings hired him as their tight ends coach in 2016 and promoted him to coordinator after Norv Turner’s resignation that season.
Shurmur was far from a hot candidate at the start of this season, but the Vikings offense thrived when Keenum, a journeyman, was pressed into action, finishing 10th in total yards despite losing the starting quarterback for all but two games and running back Dalvin Cook in Week 4. The Vikings went from 32nd in rushing a year ago to seventh despite featuring pedestrian back Latavius Murray for the majority of the season.
Keenum had an 11-3 record as the starter and passed for 3,547 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions while posting a 98.3 passer rating. Shurmur tailored the scheme to the strengths of Keenum, who is much more athletic and mobile than Sam Bradford, whom he replaced. The Vikings earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye.
The buzz around the league is the Bears are interested in finding a way to keep Fangio on the staff if he’s not hired as head coach, and it’s possible Shurmur could consider Fangio as defensive coordinator and form an appealing option for general manager Ryan Pace. Fangio is coming out of his contract, so he will be unencumbered to explore coordinator options elsewhere if a head-coaching position doesn’t materialize. The Packers will likely have interest in him after firing defensive coordinator Dom Capers, and there could be multiple other suitors.
In 2013, the Bears hoped to keep defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli after firing Lovie Smith. They pitched that plan to multiple potential coaches they met with, and it wound up being a good idea for everyone involved but Marinelli, who was steadfast in his determination to leave.
Reality was Marinelli wasn’t interested in sticking around after the Bears had fired his longtime friend Smith, and he quickly made his way to Dallas, where he remains the Cowboys defensive coordinator. It was a major miscalculation by the Bears in that transition, exceeded in blunder only by the ultimate selection of Marc Trestman as the next coach.
This situation has a different feel, however, and the Bears might be able to lure Fangio back. He’s clearly proud of the improvement of the unit that finished this season 10th in total defense, ninth in points allowed, seventh versus the pass and 11th versus the run. Multiple factors would have to line up just right, including the choice of head coach and salary.
The Bears are expected to meet with Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy next week after the team’s wild-card game against the Titans. The Colts are also expected to interview Nagy.
bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @bradbiggs
The Bears wrapped up their trip to Minnesota on Friday after interviewing Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for the vacant head-coaching position.
Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards met with the Bears on Thursday and was the second candidate to meet with the club after Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was interviewed Wednesday. Next up are believed to be Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo.
Shurmur probably has the best chance to be hired of the three candidates who have met with the team so far. He has emerged as a popular head-coaching candidate for his work with quarterback Case Keenum this season, and three other teams are considering him. Shurmur met with the Lions and Cardinals on Thursday and is expected to meet with the Giants on Saturday.
The 52-year-old Shurmur had a 9-23 record as head coach of the Browns in 2011-12, a record that would be celebrated in Cleveland the last few seasons. He went from there to the Eagles, where he picked up some offensive concepts from Chip Kelly. The Vikings hired him as their tight ends coach in 2016 and promoted him to coordinator after Norv Turner’s resignation that season.
Shurmur was far from a hot candidate at the start of this season, but the Vikings offense thrived when Keenum, a journeyman, was pressed into action, finishing 10th in total yards despite losing the starting quarterback for all but two games and running back Dalvin Cook in Week 4. The Vikings went from 32nd in rushing a year ago to seventh despite featuring pedestrian back Latavius Murray for the majority of the season.
Keenum had an 11-3 record as the starter and passed for 3,547 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions while posting a 98.3 passer rating. Shurmur tailored the scheme to the strengths of Keenum, who is much more athletic and mobile than Sam Bradford, whom he replaced. The Vikings earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye.
The buzz around the league is the Bears are interested in finding a way to keep Fangio on the staff if he’s not hired as head coach, and it’s possible Shurmur could consider Fangio as defensive coordinator and form an appealing option for general manager Ryan Pace. Fangio is coming out of his contract, so he will be unencumbered to explore coordinator options elsewhere if a head-coaching position doesn’t materialize. The Packers will likely have interest in him after firing defensive coordinator Dom Capers, and there could be multiple other suitors.
In 2013, the Bears hoped to keep defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli after firing Lovie Smith. They pitched that plan to multiple potential coaches they met with, and it wound up being a good idea for everyone involved but Marinelli, who was steadfast in his determination to leave.
Reality was Marinelli wasn’t interested in sticking around after the Bears had fired his longtime friend Smith, and he quickly made his way to Dallas, where he remains the Cowboys defensive coordinator. It was a major miscalculation by the Bears in that transition, exceeded in blunder only by the ultimate selection of Marc Trestman as the next coach.
This situation has a different feel, however, and the Bears might be able to lure Fangio back. He’s clearly proud of the improvement of the unit that finished this season 10th in total defense, ninth in points allowed, seventh versus the pass and 11th versus the run. Multiple factors would have to line up just right, including the choice of head coach and salary.
The Bears are expected to meet with Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy next week after the team’s wild-card game against the Titans. The Colts are also expected to interview Nagy.
bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @bradbiggs
