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Can Pete Carroll Save Chicago Bears' Front Office? Aggressive Head Coach Search

Pete Carroll is reportedly interested and interviewing for the Chicago Bears head coach vacancy Chicago general manager Ryan Poles said he wants to hire a candidate who can "challenge" the roster, including quarterback Caleb Williams. Does Carroll fit the bill?

Kyron Samuels

Dec 10, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll walks on the field before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Dec 10, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll walks on the field before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images / Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
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The Chicago Bears are aggressively searching for their next head coach. The regular season ended on Sunday and the Bears have already officially interviewed multiple potential candidates for the highly sought-after position. Among those names are former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, and are expected to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Iowa State coach Matt Campbell. 

While not exactly a mystery, another prominent name has been thrust into the conversation and has now completed an interview. Former USC Trojans and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has reportedly made it known he’s extremely interested in the Chicago Bears job and would be an interesting pairing with a talented defensive core, but more importantly young quarterback Caleb Williams who is also a former USC Trojans standout out. 

The Bears interviewed Carroll on Thursday, according to reports.

"One important thing is we look at the wins and losses, but you've got to go to the root cause on how we got there," general manager Ryan Poles said. "I do think we need to challenge our guys more. And when we talk about accountability, there's systems of accountability. It's how we're going to put tape up of 'this is not how we do it,' and then with examples of 'this is how we do it.' Sometimes that can be uncomfortable. I call that healthy friction and I definitely think we need more of that, and that would help result in closing the gap on some of these games that we came up short."

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There isn’t a more proven candidate to galvanize and get the most out of a roster than Pete Carroll. Outside of being known as one of the best defensive minds in football history, Carroll is renowned for his ability to relate to players from all walks of life and all ages. He’s the quintessential player's coach who also has the football acumen to command respect in that facet as well. When looking to re-energize a team and a city Carroll would be the best candidate for that role. The fact that he can positively challenge the team like they need to be to reach their goals is a bonus. 

"As a front office, we've got to continue to add talent to this roster. We have to make sure that the players we bring into this building also fit the culture that we want so we can continue to make strides forward. So I'm disappointed just like our fans are, but I'm not discouraged. I believe we have a strong core of players that we're going to connect to the right staff as they come in to make the progress that's needed." Poles continued. 

The front office seems to have more focus and determination to acquire talent and nail the hires than ever. Their jobs depend on it. If you’re leveraging your future on a coach, who else would be more trustworthy than Pete Carroll?

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Kyron Samuels
KYRON SAMUELS

Kyron Samuels is a former college and professional football player now a writer, analyst, & digital host. Kyron is a writer for USC Trojans on SI and contributes to Oregon Ducks on SI. A graduate and letterman at Jacksonville State University, Samuels was a three-year starter, two-time all-conference, and won three consecutive conference titles. After a four-year professional stint between the AFL & XFL, Samuels retired from football. In 2022, Samuels was inducted into the Fairhope Athletic Hall of Fame. Post-playing career, Samuels has become a credentialed sports media member covering the NFL, UFL, USFL, & college football. The NFL Combine, Reese’s Senior Bowl, & East-West Shrine Bowl are amongst the events Kyron has covered. As a guest and host, Samuels has been featured on ESPNRadio, FoxSportsRadio, & IHeartRadio. Outside of sports media, Samuels works as a scouting consultant and has experience coaching at the collegiate level.

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