Could Bears Emulate Cubs and Upgrade Head Coach by Hiring Michigan's Harbaugh?
Two months ago, the Chicago Cubs pulled off a move that left the baseball world stunned.
Days after the conclusion of the 2023 World Series, the Cubs announced that they would be firing manager David Ross and hiring former Milwaukee Brewers skipper Craig Counsell to fill the position, agreeing to terms on a record-setting five-year, $40 million contract.
Now, the Chicago Bears might have an opportunity to make a similar move and upgrade at head coach.
The Bears hired Matt Eberflus as their head coach two years ago. After two straight losing seasons, it remains unclear whether Eberflus will return for a third year.
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has flirted with a return to the NFL in recent years, but has remained at his alma mater. His Wolverines will play the Washington Huskies for the National Championship Monday night in Houston.
If Michigan wins, Harbaugh will have accomplished what he set out to do, when he took the Wolverines head coaching job in 2014.
Harbaugh already has ties to the city of Chicago. He played quarterback for the Bears for seven seasons, from 1987 through 1993. Harbaugh is a lifelong Cubs fan. He threw out the first pitch at a game at Wrigley in 2016, and was seen sitting in the bleachers at Cubs' World Series games later that fall.
Upgrading from Eberflus to Harbaugh would mirror the Cubs' decision to swap Counsell for Ross. Ross was under the impression that he would be returning to manage the Chicago for a fifth season in 2024, receiving a vote of confidence from Cubs owner Tom Ricketts in October.
"I think Ross had a great season, and the players played hard for him," Ricketts told reporters in October. "He's our guy. I like him a lot, and I think he had a good year. When the team got down, way below .500 and it looked like the season was over, he didn't let it go. He got the guys back and playing hard. We got to here. He was a big part of that. I think he's a great manager."
A month later, Ross was blindsided by the organization's decision to replace him with Counsell, considered by many to be the sport's best manager. Had Counsell not been available, Ross would most likely be managing the Cubs for a fifth season in 2024.
Before taking the Michigan job, Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, reaching the Super Bowl in 2012-13 and receiving NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2011.
The time might be right for Harbaugh to return to the NFL and the Bears could be a perfect fit for him. After a poor 2-6 start, the Bears showed tremendous improvement in the second half of the season, winning six of their final eight games. They appear to be a team on the rise. The Bears finished the season with some momentum, and now have the number one overall pick in the coming NFL Draft, thanks to the Carolina Panthers.
The Bears have options at quarterback. The organization can continue to roll with Justin Fields, or draft a quarterback with the number one overall pick. The organization also has options at head coach.
Replacing Eberflus with Harbaugh could be the dawning of a new era in the Windy City.
