Bears HC candidate profile: Is David Shaw a real contender?

The Chicago Bears are quite literally interviewing anyone and everyone in the football world as they search for their next head coach. After a terrible 2024 season, which saw Matt Eberflus fired after a Thanksgiving loss to Detroit and interim head coach Thomas Brown going 1-4 in his tenure, the Bears need a big time hire to rebuild the culture of the franchise, bring back winning football, and develop potential franchise star quarterback Caleb Williams.

One out of box candidate for the Bears in their search is former Standford Cardinals football coach and current senior personnel executive for the Denver Broncos, David Shaw. Having coached in football since 1995, Shaw brings 30 years of experience to the table, an offensive mind that is very much a need in Chicago, and has developed one of the best quarterbacks in recent history, Andrew Luck.

Shaw has not coached in the NFL since 2005, when he was the Baltimore Ravens wide receivers coach. He was on the Stanford coaching staff from 2007 until 2022. Back in the NFL this season as a personnel executive, Shaw finds himself back in coaching conversations, at least in Chicago. Here's an in-depth look at Shaw as he is one of many candidates the Bears are considering.

Background

• Current job: Senior personnel executive, Denver Broncos

• Age: 52

• Hometown: San Diego, California

• College: Stanford University

Experience

• Senior personnel executive, Denver Broncos (Present)

• Head coach, Stanford University (2011-2022)

• Offensive coordinator & running backs coach, Stanford University (2010)

• Offensive coordinator & wide receivers coach, Stanford University (2007-2009)

• Passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach, University of San Diego (2006)

• Wide receivers coach, Baltimore Ravens (2005)

• Quarterbacks & wide receivers coach, Baltimore Ravens (2002-2004)

• Quarterbacks coach, Oakland Raiders (2001)

• Offensive quality control coach, Oakland Raiders (1998-2000)

• Offensive quality control coach, Philadelphia Eagles (1997)

• Tight ends coach, Western Washington University (1996)

• Outside linebackers coach, Western Washington University (1995)

Fit with Bears

Shaw comes with more experience than most candidates the team is interview during this current cycle, but he's been out of the NFL since 2005. He's had plenty of success at the college level, Shaw put together a 96-54 record with the Stanford Cardinals, and that experience would help him at the NFL level.

A knack for coaching offenses, as well as building up Andrew Luck early in his collegiate career, Shaw would definitely be counted on to come in and continue the development of Caleb Williams. Showing plenty of potential and talent in a rookie season filled with drama, disappointment, and multiple coaches fired, Williams has to be aligned with the right coach to take him and the team to the next level.

Shaw would come in with experience, proof of success, offensive knowledge, but he's been gone from the NFL for a reason. The Bears do not just need a coach to come in and work with Williams, they need someone who will rebuild the structure of the franchise's respected history. A hard hitting defense that should be complimented by an offense led by Williams, as well as accountability throughout the locker room. The biggest conversation this year around the team when it comes to coaching is wanting a leader and wanting someone who is going to hold every player on the team accountable. Shaw may be more than able to do just that, but he doesn't seem to fit the personality or the popularity contest that is coming with the head coaching search.

They said it....

"David has represented Stanford football, as both a player and a coach, with unwavering grace, humility and integrity. He has cared tremendously for each and every student-athlete in his program while helping them pursue their full academic and athletic potential. David will forever remain a valued member of the Stanford football family and an integral part of the storied history of the program.”

-- Stanford Cardinals Athletic Director Bernard Muir following Shaw's resignation from the program in 2022 (via SI.com)

Bottom line

This is no discredit to Shaw or his very impressive history coaching football at both the college and professional level, but he doesn't seem to fit with the Bears. With the organization throwing out interviews to almost anyone they can find, Shaw feels more like a name on a list, rather than a serious contender for a job that should be highly coveted.

Getting back to the NFL in 2024, it's clear that Shaw may have his sights set on getting a NFL coaching opportunity, as he most recently interviewed for the Broncos job in 2022, but it went to Sean Payton instead. The Bears can not afford to go out of the box, and while there are plenty of candidates out there, there are only a few names: Ben Johnson, Mike McCarthy, Aaron Glenn, and Pete Carroll to name a few, that are continuously brought up as high consideration, Shaw should not be.

The Bears have to be incredibly careful with their decision and while Shaw has an impressive resume, not only do they have to hire the right guy for their future, they're going to be highly criticized in the court of public opinion. Hiring Shaw seems like there would be more questions than answers that come with the decision, including, how the team decided on him out of all their candidates, especially with more desirable names at the top.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC candidate profile: Is David Shaw a real contender?