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All signs are currently pointing to the return of general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy in 2021, but there’s a good chance the Chicago Bears will move on – whether it’s after this season or when their two contracts will be terminated after the next. season.
Which means the Bears will rebuild themselves again in hopes of creating a championship-caliber team. When you look at some of the names that could be vying for head coaching positions this offseason and even next, Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald is one name that remains in the foreground.
Just two years ago, Fitzgerald turned down the interest of the Green Bay Packers, who ultimately hired Matt LaFleur. Fitzgerald does have it at Northwestern, which would make the start quite difficult.
But according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Fitzgerald would only consider leaving Northwestern if there was an opportunity to coach the Bears.
In Fitzgerald’s case, I heard, at least in the short term, that the Bears would probably be the only team he would consider.
I’ve also heard that his kids are a mailman – his three sons are ages 11 to 16 – and he might want to stay where he is to accompany them to school. If he thinks so, as anyone who has children knows, it is quite understandable. And points out the facts here, that Fitzgerald is probably not going anywhere (which shouldn’t deter any NFL team from trying).
This isn’t the first time that Fitzgerald’s name has been mentioned in conjunction with the Bears. Last year, it was mentioned that Fitzgerald would only leave Northwestern if Bears’ position was open.
Fitzgerald has been Northwestern’s head coach since 2006, where he compiled a 104-79 record. This season, Fitzgerald has his Wildcats at No. 11 5-0 and atop the Big 10 West, where they’ve been one of the biggest surprises of this college football season.
After a solid first season with the Bears, Nagy led his team to unimpressive outings in 2019 and 2020, which would indicate that, unless he drastically changes things, he will likely be out of a job sooner rather than later.
And if that’s the case, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear Fitzgerald’s name once again mentioned as a potential landing point with the Bears.
Fighting Irish Wire: ND coverage by USA TODAY Network
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