With the Chicago Bears recently firing head coach Matt Eberflus, sports commentator Colin Cowherd has been vocal about the future direction of the organization—especially the search for their next head coach. In the wake of Eberflus’ departure, the Bears face a crucial decision about who will lead their team moving forward, and Cowherd believes he has an audacious solution.
On Wednesday’s episode of The Herd, Cowherd addressed an article he came across that floated the idea of the Bears trading for San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
After mulling over the concept, Cowherd came to the conclusion that making such a bold move could be exactly what the Bears need. He urged the organization to be aggressive in their pursuit, even suggesting that Chicago should be willing to offer up multiple draft picks to secure Shanahan.
“I would give up multiple picks for Kyle Shanahan,” Cowherd asserted during his show.
A Risk Worth Taking?
Cowherd believes that Shanahan is a “rock star” among NFL head coaches—someone who has consistently proven his ability to develop top-tier offenses and elevate his players. According to Cowherd, Shanahan’s expertise, offensive acumen, and leadership skills would provide an immediate upgrade for the Bears organization.
Cowherd’s rationale behind this bold suggestion was based on Shanahan’s potential interest in a change of scenery. He suggested that perhaps Shanahan has already accomplished a lot with the 49ers and might be open to exploring a new opportunity if the conditions and financial compensation are right.
While Shanahan is regarded as one of the most creative and brilliant coaches in the NFL today, his tenure in San Francisco has not always been straightforward. Despite his reputation, the results on the field have been mixed. Since becoming head coach of the 49ers in 2017, Shanahan has experienced both spectacular highs and frustrating lows.
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He has guided the 49ers to multiple NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance, but he has also endured several seasons with losing records, largely influenced by injuries to key players, particularly at the quarterback position.
Currently, Shanahan holds a career record of 69-58 as a head coach, which translates to a win rate of 54.3 percent.
This win rate may not seem overwhelmingly impressive at first glance, especially when considering the number of injuries and setbacks the 49ers have endured over the years. However, Cowherd emphasized that with a healthy franchise quarterback, Shanahan is capable of leading a team to heights that rival some of the greatest coaches in NFL history.
In contrast, when the quarterback situation is in turmoil, his teams tend to struggle, as evidenced by the 49ers’ recent struggles in the absence of their starting quarterback, Brock Purdy.
Could Shanahan Be Open to a New Opportunity?
Cowherd floated the idea that perhaps Shanahan may be interested in making a fresh start. Although Shanahan has found a level of success in San Francisco, including leading the team to a Super Bowl berth in the 2019 season, there is the possibility that he could feel he’s reached the limits of what he can accomplish there.
This is especially true given the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position and the difficulties that come with keeping the roster healthy.
But as intriguing as Cowherd’s idea might be, it is purely speculative at this point. There has been no public indication from Shanahan that he’s looking to leave the 49ers or that he’s unhappy with his current situation.
Moreover, there’s also no reason to believe that the 49ers would willingly part with Shanahan, who is considered one of the best coaches they’ve had in decades. Trading him away for “a few mere draft picks,” as Cowherd put it, seems highly unlikely, given how much Shanahan means to the franchise.
The Bears, however, are in a unique position. After another season of underperformance and a disappointing stint under Matt Eberflus, the Bears are looking for stability and success that they haven’t experienced in years.
The prospect of acquiring a coach with Shanahan’s pedigree would be a massive shift for the franchise, one that could set them on a course for sustained success—if they are willing to pay the steep price in draft capital.
Should the Bears Take the Gamble?
For the Bears, trying to gauge Shanahan’s availability may be worth exploring, even if it’s a long shot. A move like this would be unprecedented, and it would signal to the league that the Bears are serious about making a major change in the trajectory of the organization.
The Bears’ roster includes some promising pieces, including a young quarterback in Justin Fields, who has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled with consistency.
Cowherd emphasized that Shanahan could be exactly the kind of coach to elevate Fields’ game, much like he has done with other quarterbacks, including Matt Ryan (whom Shanahan helped lead to an MVP season while serving as offensive coordinator in Atlanta) and Brock Purdy, who has emerged as a reliable starter under Shanahan’s guidance.
The big question is whether the 49ers would even entertain such an offer. Trading a head coach, especially one as highly regarded as Shanahan, is exceedingly rare in the NFL.
It would require a perfect storm of factors, including Shanahan’s willingness to move on and the 49ers’ desire to rebuild or pivot in a new direction. The compensation would have to be significant, likely involving multiple first-round picks, which could be a hefty price to pay for the Bears considering their current need to rebuild their roster.
On the other hand, making a move for Shanahan could help turn Chicago’s fortunes around far more quickly than hiring an unproven or lower-tier head coach. It would give them an immediate presence on the sidelines, someone who is known for his innovative offensive mind and ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of the NFL.
Shanahan has shown that he can build effective schemes tailored to his players’ strengths, and that’s exactly the kind of coach that a team like Chicago, with its mix of young talent and underperforming stars, needs.
The Reality Check
However, there are significant obstacles that make this scenario unlikely. Shanahan is under contract with the 49ers, and there is no indication that either he or the organization wants to end that relationship.
Moreover, Shanahan’s record in San Francisco, while not flawless, includes three NFC Championship Game appearances in four seasons, a feat that very few teams have matched.
While Colin Cowherd’s suggestion certainly makes for entertaining discussion, it also highlights the desperate state of the Chicago Bears and their need for stability and leadership.
The franchise has gone through a series of coaching changes and failed experiments in recent years, and hiring someone with the pedigree of Shanahan would signal a dramatic shift in the team’s strategy.
The Bears have a lot of questions to answer this offseason—starting with who will take over as head coach. While it remains highly unlikely that Kyle Shanahan will be available or willing to leave San Francisco, Cowherd’s bold suggestion underscores just how high the stakes are for the Bears. They need a coach who can transform the culture, maximize their talent, and build a sustainable winner.
Whether they make a bold move like pursuing Shanahan or settle for a more conventional hire, one thing is clear: the Chicago Bears cannot afford to get this decision wrong.
Their fans are eager for a return to prominence, and they need a coach who can lead them there. While Shanahan might be the dream candidate, the Bears must be realistic in their approach as they begin their search for the next leader of their storied franchise.
