Suggested Bears Trade for Next Head Coach May Not Be Totally Crazy
By Todd Welter
You may think ESPN's Kalyn Kahler is crazy for suggesting the Chicago Bears trade for Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.
Heck, even she admits it is a shocking idea, even as a hypothetical.
This is going to sound crazy, but the Bears need to think crazy. They should trade for Kevin O’Connell. Caleb and KOC love each other. I don’t know if the Vikings would ever part with him, but Chicago should at least try. Added bonus: I believe his agent is Trace Armstrong
— Kalyn Kahler (@kalynkahler) December 2, 2024
Yet, thinking big like this would be a welcomed departure from an organization that somehow managed to bungle firing Matt Eberflus.
Questioning waiting to have the meeting 18 hours after the Thanksgiving debacle in Detroit, which ultimately was the final straw, is fair game. Acting like that will prohibit the team from hiring a good replacement, which is a bridge too far. Remember, there are only 32 head coaching jobs in the NFL. Top candidates can be picky, but they have to be careful. Plus, cash and power is king.
Trying to trade for O'Connell would be costly and unlikely.
There is precedent for a coach to be traded within a division. The New York Jets famously traded for Bill Parcells in 1997. The Jets sent four draft picks, including a first-round choice for Parcells, to come over from New England after he took the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
He was also dealt to the Jets as he was seeking to be a head coach and general manager. Ironically three years later, the Jets traded Bill Belichick to the Patriots after Belichick decided not to succeed Parcells in New York.
The Jets got three draft picks, including a first-round selection in that deal. Belichick went on to win six Super Bowls with Tom Brady and build some of the best rosters the NFL has ever seen.
If you are O'Connell, the only reason you are leaving the Minnesota Vikings is to coach Caleb Williams and have immense front-office power. Otherwise, it makes no sense to leave the nice situation he currently has.
There have been three other coaches traded. Mike Holmgren went from Green Bay to Seattle for a second-round pick in 1999. Herm Edwards went from the Jets to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth-round choice. Jon Gruden was traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round picks and second-rounder.
The Bears would have to be ready to pony up a first-round pick and likely more based on all those deals. It is unlikely the team would be bold enough to do that. It also would take away potential assets to finally fix their offensive and defensive lines.
Vikings fans should not worry, and Bears fans should not get their hopes up. This is a club that could not even fire the worst head coach they ever had correctly, so it is hard to imagine this franchise pulling off such a huge move.
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