Following the Bears’ offensive struggles in 2019, they wasted no time cleaning part of the house with the firings of four coaches, including offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich.
The Bears now have an offensive coordinator vacancy, and there are several options head coach Matt Nagy is surely looking at. While Nagy serves as play-caller — and likely will remain as such in 2020 — he’ll be looking for someone to better assist him in the development of the play sheet throughout the week as they look to right the broken ship that is Chicago’s offense.
Here are five candidates that could land the Bears’ offensive coordinator position:
1. Mike Kafka
When you take a look at all the candidates, Mike Kafka is one that probably makes the most sense. He has the Andy Reid connection — and a connection to Matt Nagy. Kafka played as a backup quarterback with the Eagles during Nagy’s time as an offensive assistant in Philadelphia with Reid.
Nagy is quite familiar with Kafka, whose is from Chicago and went to Northwestern. You have to imagine this would be an enticing opportunity for him.
Obviously, Reid would have to sign off on Kafka going to Chicago, but Reid is someone that tends to encourage his guys to move up the ranks. The only thing stopping him would likely be if Eric Bienemy lands a head coaching job and Reid decides to promote Kafka to Chiefs offensive coordinator.
2. Pat Shurmur
Shurmur is the popular pick to land the offensive coordinator position with the Bears. While he’s twice failed as a head coach in the NFL, he has found success as an offensive coordinator. Shurmur served as offensive coordinator for the Rams from 2009-10 and then the Vikings in 2017, both of which led to head coaching opportunities.
Shurmur has ties to Matt Nagy, as they both were on the Eagles staff in 2008. But it’s Shurmur’s ties to Andy Reid, who he worked with from 1999-2008, that make him a prime candidate for the job, as he’s familiar with the kind of offense Nagy is running.
Unlike some candidates on this list, Shurmur has experience as an offensive play caller. Not that Nagy plans on giving up play-calling duties, but it would be beneficial.
3. Marty Mornhinweg
Another candidate with ties to Andy Reid is Marty Mornhinweg, who spent 2003-12 with Reid in Philadelphia and has familiarity with the kind of offense Nagy runs. He also worked with Nagy from 2008-12 during his time with the Eagles.
Mornhinweg most recently served as Ravens offensive coordinator from 2016-18. Yes, he was relieved of his duties before Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s offense took flight this season. But you could argue that the Ravens rushed Jackson out on the field in the mid
Mornhinweg has experience working with mobile quarterbacks, among them Jackson and even Michael Vick in Philadelphia, which should make him a prime candidate to help guide Mitchell Trubisky. That, and his reputation to want to develop mobile quarterbacks into pocket passers, which is something the Bears have been trying and failing at with Trubisky.
4. Dave Ragone
The Bears could promote in-house for the offensive coordinator position, and someone that stands out is quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone, who has some required experience and an understanding of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
Ragone doesn’t have experience calling plays, but that’s not something he’d be responsible for with Nagy making the play calls. Although during the preseason, Nagy did give Ragone an opportunity to call plays during the first half of Chicago’s final preseason contest against the Titans.
Ragone has spent the last four years as quarterbacks coach with the Bears, first joining John Fox in 2016. Ragone previously served as a receivers and quarterbacks coach with the Titans over three seasons, as well as an offensive quality control coach for one season with the Redskins.
5. Brad Childress
Given Brad Childress’ role with the Bears over the last couple of years, he’s definitely an option for the vacant offensive coordinator job — although he’s probably the most unlikely candidate. Childress remains on staff as a senior offensive assistant with Chicago.
Childress’ involvement with the Bears stems back to his ties to Andy Reid, where he spent 2000-05 with Reid as everything from offensive coordinator to assistant head coach in Kansas City.
But if the Bears are looking to go with an in-house hire, Dave Ragone remains the most likely option.
