Bears Head Coach Search Includes Singletary

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 8, 2013 4:40PM

Chicago Bears GM Phil Emery's search for a new head coach Is indeed as fast, furious and thorough as he said it would be. It’s also turning a bit comical.

Emery has requested permission to speak with 13 coaches so far, including Marc Trestman of the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League and, according to the Tribune, Vikings linebackers coach and former Bears Hall of Fame middle linebacker Mike Singletary.

Singletary’s coaching career has been largely distinguished for his work with linebackers, notably his early work with future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis in Baltimore. But he’s best remembered for his tenure as head coach of the 49ers, where he went off on a rant about wanting players who play and dropped his pants during halftime of a game.

It’s believed by many that Emery’s request to speak with Singletary was done as a favor to the McCaskey family. Tribune curmudgeon Steve Rosenbloom said, if that is the case, “this coaching search got dumber and must end.” Emery also requested permission to speak with Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer and interviewed Bears special teams coach Dave Toub.

The wide net Emery has cast in the search to replace Lovie Smith has led many of the same critics who praised him for firing Smith last week to wonder if he has a larger agenda. Hosts on WSCR-AM floating the theory that Emery is requesting to speak to so many coaching candidates more to spy on other NFL teams than to find the right replacement for Smith. And they’re divided on whether that’s a good thing, if true. Afternoon co-host Dan Bernstein said Tuesday it was sound strategy; morning co-host Mike Mulligan said Wednesday it was ridiculous.

Regardless, Emery is holding true to his word to make this search thorough. But, as Rosenbloom wrote, eventually Emery will have to hire a coach.