David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
After interviewing 13 potential candidates, Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery finally made a decision and hired Marc Trestman to be the Bears’ 14th head coach in their 94-year history. Since the search for a new head coach began, many were saying that Chicago was in need of an offensive-minded coach to lead the team. By the looks of things, it seems like they have their man.
Trestman has spent the last five seasons as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. In the CFL, Trestman led the Alouettes to two Grey Cup titles in 2009 and 2010.
Prior to the CFL, Trestman has had experience as a coach in the NFL dating back to 1985. What stands out the most in his NFL experience is the time he spent coaching big-name quarterbacks.
In 1995-96, Trestman was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young. Furthermore, from 2001-03, Trestman held the same positions while coaching quarterback Rich Gannon, who won the league MVP award and led the Oakland Raiders to the Super Bowl in 2002.
In addition to the Trestman hiring, Emery has also added Aaron Kromer as the Bears new offensive coordinator. Kromer, who was the interim coach for the New Orleans Saints this season, may also coach the offensive line as well.
This combination could create some magic for the Bears, considering the fact that Trestman and Kromer worked together in Oakland, when they went to the Super Bowl.
Many Bears fans were greatly anticipating Emery to go after a big-name head coach, but in the end, I think that he did the right thing in bringing in Trestman and Kromer. Trestman has proven that he is a winner and a good head coach with the two Grey Cup victories. Kromer has displayed the same proof with taking over as head coach in the early part of the 2012 season with the Saints and having a Super Bowl ring on his finger as an O-line coach.
Looking at how inconsistent Chicago’s offense has been over the past decade, there is no way they can get any worse. The only direction to go now is up for the Bears.
Follow me on Twitter @ClydeASpeller
