Bear Digest

The Strong Bears Ties to Joe Barry

Analysis: The Bears talking to Joe Barry about defensive coordinator or any other coaching spot makes perfect sense even if Packers fans don't like him.
Gene Chamberlain|
The Strong Bears Ties to Joe Barry
The Strong Bears Ties to Joe Barry

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Chicago Bears

It's not exactly the most popular interview the Bears have ever given to someone, at least from the reaction on social media.

It also might show how too many Bears fans are listening to Packers fans.

A report by The Athletic's Dana Russini said the Bears are interviewing former Green Bay Packers Joe Barry for a defensive post. Later, NFL Network's Jane Slater reported it is for the vacant defensive coordinator position.

The reaction has been a real toe-stubbing, as Chicago fans cried out in utter agony.

Green Bay fans had taken to social media over the past few months bashing Barry at every turn. So many Bears fans apparently are taking the word of Packer fans by rushing to judgment.

The truth is, the interview makes total sense even if hiring him would need to be done with provisions.

This isn't to say they should hire Barry, but there are reasons it makes sense and here's why:

1. Matt Eberflus Success

Eberflus had great success as the head coach/defensive play caller this year. Just because he talks to any candidate doesn't mean he's giving up play-calling duties. If he's still doing it, this would minimize the impact of anyone they hire as the defensive coordinator. 

Then again, Eberflus hasn't said he would keep the play-calling duties, either.

2. Barry Is a Tampa-2 Coach

The 3-4 the Packers ran was left over and what the coaches there wanted him to run. His real expertise is in Tampa-2 like the Bears now run. So in essence, if there was a fault with the Packers defense it was Matt LaFleur who was to blame. He was trying to force a square peg in a round hole or round peg in a square hole by using a two-gap approach up front with a coach who had always been a proponent of the one-gap, Tampa-2 style.

3. Barry's Tie

He is Rod Marinelli's son-in-law and Matt Eberflus is Marinelli's good friend. 

So Eberflus sort of has to talk to him. 

Then again, Barry was Marinelli's defensive coordinator in Detroit and they went winless in 2008.

4. Domination of Bears

Barry proved to the Bears he can be a coordinator because he won all six games against them. He definitely had the secret for stopping the Bears offense and Justin Fields. They held the Bears to 17 points a game in those six games. His Washington defenses in 2015-16 also beat the Bears, so he has won eight straight against them. The Lions defense also swept the Bears in 2007 when he was defensive coordinator. If anyone would respect Barry's abilities, it would be the team that can't beat him.

5. More Experienced

Barry has so much more experience as a coordinator in the NFL than the other candidates that it's not even worth discussing. He has seven years of experience. Chris Harris and Terrell Williams have never been coordinators. Eric Washington did it for a few years under Ron Rivera with the Panthers.

6. Scapegoat

Packers fans used Barry as their scapegoat and he might not have really been that bad. The Packers were ninth on defense before Barry arrived and ninth the first season he was coordinator. They've dropped off to 17th each of the last two years, although their run defense had become an issue. They were 13th, 17th and 10th in scoring defense under Barry. In his three years, they were 10th, sixth and ninth against the pass. Where they had problems was the run defense. They had been 11th in his first season but fell off to 26th in 2022 and 28th this season—although they seemed able to stop the Bears running attack when they wanted.

7. Scouting

It's always good to talk to someone from the organization dominating yours to get an idea why this happens. Barry has been part of LaFleur's domination of the Bears for three seasons and can provide insight even if the Bears don't hire him.

Barry's defense had a big part in this domination. They didn't have Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love holding the Bears offense to 17 points a game. It was the Packers defense. Maybe he can give them clues as to what they're doing wrong even if he isn't their hire.

8. They Can Use the Help

At this point, with Eberflus in a position where he needs to win and might have only one year left to do it, hiring assistants isn't always the easiest thing to do. It really isn't easy when so many coaching staffs changed this year and there is a scramble for qualified candidates as assistants and coordinators.

Getting an experienced coordinator or even a defensive assistant in any capacity—especially one willing to climb on board what some see as a sinking ship—is a plus at this late stage. To get one who has many of the same defensive teachings you do is even more of a plus.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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