The Sun-Times has confirmed reports that long-time NFL quarterback guru Marc Trestman, currently the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, will interview for the Bears' head coaching vacancy.
In five years under Trestman, 56, the Alouettes have won two Grey Cups (2009, 2010) and played in three. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo was named the CFL's Most Valuable Player in 2009 and 2010.
But Trestman earned most of his reputation working with quarterbacks in the U.S. He was hired for his first coaching job at the University of Miami in 1981 when he was a law school student and became the quarterbacks coach in 1983, when Bernie Kosar led the Hurricanes to Miami's first national championship. He also has worked with Kosar with the Cleveland Browns (1988-89), the 49ers' Steve Young (1995-96) and he was the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2002 when Rich Gannon was the NFL's MVP.
Trestman also has worked in the offseason preparing quarterbacks for the NFL draft, including Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in 2006. Trestman also has worked with Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, Tem Tebow and Jimmy Clausen.
Trestman went to the CFL in 2008, where Calvillo has flourished under his tutelage. In 2011, Calvillo led the CFL in passing yards (5,251) and touchdowns (32) while throwing a league-low eight interceptions. Last season at 40, Calvillo was second in passing yards (5,082) and touchdowns (31) behind former Bears quarterback Henry Burris.
Trestman has always had a great reputation among football coaches. He has been hired by Howard Schnellenberger, Jon Gruden, George Seifert and Bud Grant among others. Like Phil Emery, he has a varied resume in his professional career and has parlayed that experience into a career as a leadership speaker.
He wrote a book, ''Perseverance: Life Lessons on Leadership and Teamwork'' in 2010. ''I am not in the football business. I am in the people business,'' he wrote. ''The best leaders are those who care about those they lead.''
Like many other candidates for the Bears coaching job, Trestman gets rave reviews from those who know him. Trestman's philosophies seem to fit the profile characteristics Emery is looking for. Among them is being flexible enough to adapt a football system to the current personnel.
''He's one of those guys that you want to go out and lay it on the line for,'' 49ers Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice said in a testimonial for the National Speakers Bureau. ''He is totally committed and player are going to want to play for a guy like that.''
This is raising concerns. What makes this guy qualified to be an NFL head coach? I liked Emory's moves up until this point, but this really raises issues. Coaching in the CFL does not qualify someone to coach in the NFL, period. Neither does being just a QB coach in the NFL.
I realize that Emory is looking for excellence, and this guy seems to have excelled. Problem is, he did so in the minor leagues. I hope this isn't an indication that Emory doesn't know what he's doing. If it does, the Bears could be in big trouble.
If this is the same guy I read about and he gets hired, it paves the way for Tim Tebow to come to the Bears. Trestman loves Tebow.
In an NFL SHOCKER, the Bears trade Jay Cutler & Brandon Marshall for 3-4 #1 picks and more. And then they bet the house on God's favorite QB!
The Bears will get off the bus running for real now with the UNSTOPPABLE SMASHMOUTH TIM TEBOW!
GO BEARS!
PR stunt, Emery would not hire this guy to be the head coach. It's the whole "no stone left unturned deal" This guys numbers mean nothing. Canadian football is not real football, 12 men on the field, no secondary, giant wide open fields, only three downs, no running game, bigger end zones. Out of 8 teams this guys offense ranked 4th in scoring. His QB Calvillo was not the top QB in the league, Burris is. Yes Burris is the best QB in Canada, that tells you all you need to know.
Oh Rice is talking him up, well looks like he is not done burning the Bears. Look I get the Bears want people to think they are doing everything possible to find the next great coach. But I really doubt Emery does not know who he wants already, at worst he has an idea and he most likely had the same idea the day they hired him.
The Bears have the Luxery to sit and wait for awhile. Reid is gone and they never wanted him. Old Andy wnet to KC smelled ribs and decided he found the place he wanted to be buried in. All the other coaches hoping to be a head coach are waiting on the Bears. Would anyone really want to work in Philly? Chargers have no fans, the Bills, and the Browns, I don't think so.
At this point it would not shock me if junior college coaches started getting interviews. "We are checking everything"
Oh and one other thing, he didn't do jack for Calvillo, have you ever seen his stats, all of them, as in pre Trestman? You know like his 6000 yard passing seasons in 03 and 04, long before they ever met. Calvillo like most Canadian QB's was lighting it up long before Trestman. Not sure why he gets the credit. Monteal was also already the best team in the league when Trestman took over and had made the playoff's 12 years in a row, including winning the Gray cup in 2002. They actually played for the Gray Cup in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008. Montreal was the best team before he got there.