Former Bears coach Lovie Smith will interview with the Philadelphia Eagles for their vacancy Thursday, the team announced.
The Eagles were reportedly very interesting in landing Oregon coach Chip Kelly. But Kelly opted -- for the second offseason in a row -- to remain at Oregon after a flirtation with the NFL. Last year, he was close to becoming the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs, though, ended up hiring Greg Schiano from Rutgers.
The Eagles also were interested in Penn State coach Bill O'Brien and Syracuse coach Doug Marrone. But O'Brien elected to remain at Penn State, and Marrone was introduced as the Buffalo Bills head coach Monday. Smith also interviewed with the Bills.
The Eagles search seems to focus more on pro assistants. They've already interviewed several, including Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.
Attention Blogmaster: it seems that there is a problem with the box where you place your name. I've posted having inserted a name and had it shown as Anonymous. Don't you notice there are too many Anonymous' showing up when usually most people put some kind of name?
As soon as Lovie was fired news came that 4 out of the 6 teams had contacted him, two mentioned were Phoenix and Buffalo.
Now we learn Lovie recently ASKED to be interviewed by Buffalo and was, a day or two ago.
And now the Eagles are going to interview Lovie after trying to get other coaches but failed. Which means Lovie is not the first choice of anyone!
The report that 4 teams had contacted him seems now to be just a lie to hype up interest in him.
And with the Bears interviewing everybody under the sun except Coaches with a winning NFL track record (Mike Holmgren 64, Brian Billick 58, Bill Cowher 55), they are showing their true ineptness as they have done many times before.
Some people say the winning NFL coaches are all too old. Too old for what? No matter WHO you pick, that Coach will only get 5 years and probably only 3 to take this team back to the playoffs or Superbowl. Especially, since the team is built to win NOW.
The Bears could have dumped Lovie years ago and hired Jim Harbaugh or Pete Carroll when they had the chance. Now all of a sudden the Bears are this dynamic, risk taking, radical, out of the box thinking team, thorough with synergy and excellence?
BALONEY!
Just hire Holmgren, Billick, or Cowher and be done with it! NOBODY is going to criticize the Bears for hiring any of those 3!
OR go cheap and just make Toub or Bates the HC for 3 years since they know the personnel and how this team runs right now.
IT'S JUST THAT EASY!
GO BEARS!
Hey, sean, any scuttlebut about how the McCoy interview went?
Question4u, you oversimplify. Did you think Lovie would also only last three years? Many things can happen, both positive and negative, that can impact a coach's tenure.
Paul, I haven't heard anything about McCoy's interview.
I am neither surprised by the length of his tenure nor that it just ended. No matter how you look at him, he did improve the club, he did lead them to a Super Bowl... but he also missed the playoffs in five of the last six years.
Almost forgot if the Bears are smart, they will move Shea to the sam position then on nickel downs they can move him into the role they think he is so great at for whatever reason, pass rush specialist. At least they can show they are getting some use out of him at the Sam which he is much better suited to play.
Sean who do you think the front runners are? And who would be your preference?
I'd be interested to hear Sean's take too.
I think the guy Emery's going to hire is still in the playoffs - and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was one of the OCs from Denver, Houston, or GB, which is why there hasn't been a ton of movement other than just interviewing a bunch of candidates the Bears know they aren't going to hire.
If fact, I wouldn't be surprised if something is already worked out with one of those guys, and we're just waiting for them to be eliminated - or win the Superbowl.
My money's on McCoy.