I have to admit, speculating about the Bears’ next head coach has been a surprisingly entertaining distraction. But soon perhaps in a few weeks or longer, depending on how far the Lions go in the playoffs—the Bears will make their hire, and the one thing keeping fans grounded through this turbulent season will fade into the rearview mirror.
At this stage, no one can say for sure which direction Ryan Poles and Kevin Warren will take, though plenty of educated guesses have emerged. One particularly bold idea? Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers somehow landing in Chicago. Yes, that Kyle Shanahan the offensive mastermind. How did this rumor even start? Apparently, the notion was that Shanahan needed a fresh start to reach his full potential, and that the McCaskey family would be the ones to provide it. Sound ridiculous? You’re not alone.
Well, it seems we can officially shut down that fantasy. According to a report from the Bay Area, Jed York, the 49ers’ owner, slammed the door on any speculation during a pregame chat ahead of Monday Night Football against the Lions.
When asked about the possibility of Shanahan being traded, York left no room for interpretation: “You can write that, for sure,” he told the San Francisco Standard. “They’re not going anywhere.”
And just like that, the Shanahan-to-the-Bears dream is dead. The rumor always felt more like a Twitter-fueled pipe dream than a serious possibility, but it was fun while it lasted. After all, it’s far more enjoyable to imagine Shanahan in Chicago than to revisit suggestions from certain Serious Sports Writers who think Ron Rivera—yes, that Ron Rivera—is the answer.
Of course, what if York’s comments are part of some elaborate bluff? Could this all be a strategic smokescreen, designed to spark a wild offer from Chicago? Who’s to say? A Kyle Shanahan-for-Ben Johnson scenario still sounds tantalizing, doesn’t it? Maybe the dream isn’t entirely dead—yet.
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