Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings
The Chicago Bears‘ search for a new head coach is officially underway after the team fired Matt Eberflus on Friday, marking a critical turning point for an organization that has struggled to find consistent success for years. At 4-8 and in danger of missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, Chicago’s front office has decided to move on from Eberflus, leaving them as one of three NFL teams—along with the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders—that will be in the market for a new head coach in 2025. However, it’s not just the typical coaching search that’s being talked about in Chicago. No, in a move that’s more outlandish than it seems, ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler has floated a crazy-but-intriguing idea: The Bears should trade for Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Is it truly as absurd as it sounds? Well, the NFL has seen its fair share of head coach trades over the years, so let’s take a closer look at why this “crazy” idea might have some merit, even if it’s still a long shot.
The Rare Reality of Head Coach Trades
Let’s start with some context. It’s not every day that a head coach changes teams via trade, but it’s certainly not unheard of. According to FanDuel Research, there have been eight notable head coach trades in NFL history, including some big names like Don Shula (1970), Bill Parcells (1997), Mike Holmgren (1999), Bill Belichick (2000), Jon Gruden (2022), Herm Edwards (2006), Bruce Arians (2019), and Sean Payton (2023). A number of these moves involved hefty compensation, including first-round draft picks, which demonstrates that in certain circumstances, teams are willing to part with significant assets to bring in a proven head coach.
So, while trading for a head coach is rare, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility.
The Case for Kevin O’Connell
Now, back to the Bears. Why would Chicago even consider trading for O’Connell? Well, Kahler highlighted a couple of important factors that make the idea a little less outlandish than it might first appear. For one, O’Connell is just 39 years old and has already established himself as one of the brightest young minds in the NFL. In his third season as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, O’Connell has compiled a 30-16 record, including a division title and an NFC Wild Card appearance in his first season. This year, the Vikings have been performing at an even higher level with a 10-2 record, and O’Connell has shown the ability to lead a team to success even in a highly competitive NFC North.
Beyond his coaching acumen, O’Connell has another key connection to the Bears: Caleb Williams, the USC quarterback who is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Kahler pointed out that Williams and O’Connell have a great relationship, which could make a future in Chicago particularly appealing to the young star. Moreover, O’Connell’s agent is Trace Armstrong, a former Bears defensive lineman who played for the team from 1989 to 1994 and has significant ties to the Bears’ last two head coaches, Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus. Armstrong also represents Lincoln Riley, the head coach who mentored Williams at USC, adding another layer of intrigue to this potential pairing.
Why Minnesota Would Be Reluctant to Part with O’Connell
Of course, as Kahler acknowledged, there’s one major roadblock to this idea: the Minnesota Vikings, who are bitter NFC North rivals of the Bears. It’s not every day that two division rivals make a trade of this magnitude, especially one that would involve a high-profile coach like O’Connell. The Vikings are currently one of the hottest teams in the league, and O’Connell has become the centerpiece of their success. Trading him away would be an admission of failure by Minnesota’s front office, something that the Vikings are unlikely to entertain unless the compensation is simply too good to ignore.
In response to Kahler’s suggestion, The Ringer’s Danny Heifetz raised the obvious question: “If you’re Minnesota, how many firsts do you need to send KOC to the Bears?” The answer is likely a lot. Given O’Connell’s success and his potential to be a top-tier coach for years to come, the Vikings would demand a king’s ransom if they were even willing to entertain the idea of trading their head coach.
Is It a Pipe Dream?
In all likelihood, a trade for Kevin O’Connell would be a near-impossible feat for the Bears to pull off. The Vikings have a talented roster, are contenders in the NFC, and O’Connell is integral to their success. It’s hard to imagine Minnesota parting ways with him, especially to a division rival. However, the Bears’ situation is dire enough that something drastic might be necessary, and Kahler’s suggestion might not be as “crazy” as it first seems.
The reality is that Chicago needs a fresh, innovative mind at the top of the organization, someone who can finally help this team find the kind of sustained success it’s been craving. O’Connell certainly fits that mold, but even if a trade isn’t realistic, the Bears will undoubtedly be exploring every option to secure the right leader for their team moving forward.
As Chicago enters yet another offseason in search of a new head coach, one thing is for sure: Whatever happens next, the Bears are in need of a game-changing hire—crazy ideas and all.
