Advertisement

Bears HC candidate profile: Is Todd Monken the next Bruce Arians?

brendan sugrue, bears wire
·4 min read

The Chicago Bears are searching for their next head coach, where general manager Ryan Poles will lead the charge in a wide-ranging search that will include up-and-coming coordinators, former head coaches, and even a current head coach.

As the coaching carousel begins to take its spins around the league, there have been many names being connected to the Bears, including Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who is a long-time assistant coach and could be ready to lead a pro team of his own. Monken has been stellar with the Ravens over the last two years, helping elevate the offense and quarterback Lamar Jackson's career.

Monken is set to interview with the Bears later in the week, but here is an in-depth look at the 58-year-old and what he could bring to the Bears.

Background

  • Current Job: Offensive coordinator, Baltimore Ravens (2023-present)

  • Age: 58

  • Hometown: Wheaton, Illinois

  • College: Knox College

Experience

  • Offensive coordinator, Baltimore Ravens (2023-present

  • Offensive coordinator, University of Georgia (2020-2022)

  • Offensive coordinator, Cleveland Browns (2019)

  • Offensive coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018)

  • Offensive coordinator & wide receivers coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016-2017)

  • Head coach, Southern Miss (2013-2015)

  • Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach, Oklahoma State (2011-2012)

  • Wide receivers coach, Jacksonville Jaguars (2007-2010)

  • Passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach, LSU (2005-2006)

  • Passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach, Oklahoma State (2002-2004)

  • Wide receivers coach, Louisiana Tech (2001)

  • Running backs & wide receivers coach, Louisiana Tech (2000)

  • Offensive coordinator & wide receivers coach, Eastern Michigan (1998-1999)

  • Defensive backs & wide receivers coach, Eastern Michigan (1993-1997)

  • Graduate assistant, Notre Dame (1991-1992)

  • Graduate assistant, Grand Valley State (1989-1990)

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on the field before the game against the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on the field before the game against the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Fit with Bears

The Bears continue to prioritize offensive-minded candidates for their next head coach, and Monken has arguably more experience on that side of the ball than any other person they are interviewing. Monken has spent over 30 years coaching position groups and holding coordinator positions at the college and professional levels, from Eastern Michigan in the 1990s to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2000s, Southern Miss in the 2010s, and now the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020s. He has seen it all from a football standpoint, and he's had success at a number of spots.

It's that type of experience that would make him invaluable to the Bears. Monken got the most out of Stetson Bennett while at Georgia, helping them win two national titles, and was able to elevate Jackson's career as a passer like no one could before. Imagine what he could do with Caleb Williams and the Bears offense. He would have the defense playing hard as well.

Despite coaching on the offensive side for much of his career, Monken's stint at Southern Miss should serve as encouragement for what he can do with a whole squad. He took a team that finished the previous season 0-12 and, within three years, got them to a 9-5 season and first in their division in Conference USA. He's an astute offensive coach who brings enough intensity to be a factor across all phases.

They said it...

"Man, there’s nothing like the real thing, right? Seeing Todd in real life is even better than reports I would say. He’s a very good teacher. He does it in a very energetic kind of way, the way that we love to see around here. He’s just very relatable. He’s also a very detailed coach—especially in the passing game—but not just that: the protection, the run game, the quarterback reads, everything. He’s very involved, very hands on."

--Ravens head coach John Harbaugh on Todd Monken in 2023 (via Ravens Wire)

Bottom line

The more the Ravens offense continues to steamroll opponents, the more Monken's name comes up in head coach conversations. There are some questions as to how well he could be a head coach at the NFL level, as some of his interviews during the last cycle reportedly didn't go very well. Still, it's a smart idea to see if he's the right man for the job to right the ship in Chicago. Monken could be the perfect combination of an offensive guru who can galvanize the locker room. Some have compared him to Bruce Arians in that regard, and it's a fair one.

Arians spent years as a coordinator, having success with Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. When he was hired by the Arizona Cardinals, he turned things around while resurrecting Carson Palmer's career and nearly got them back to the Super Bowl in 2015. In Tampa, he captured a title with Tom Brady in 2020.

The Bears could have had Arians a decade ago but opted to go with Marc Trestman instead. This could be their chance to right that wrong and find a hard-nosed coach who can get the most out of Williams. If Ben Johnson doesn't get hired for whatever reason, Monken would be a solid consolation prize.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC candidate profile: Is Todd Monken the next Bruce Arians?