5 NFL teams that could lure David Shaw away from Stanford

2. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are no stranger to scrutiny in recent years, especially since they selected Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson in the 2017 NFL Draft (in case you might have forgotten). After a brutal season, the Bears fired John Fox and hired then-Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to replace him, with the goal of him grooming Trubisky. There was hope in 2018, with Trubisky earning a nomination to the Pro Bowl. It’s been a downward spiral for the Bears offense since.

Trubisky regressed massively last year, with the team opting to decline his fifth-year option this past offseason. With one last chance, Trubisky disappointed through the first three games, as Nagy benched him in favor of Nick Foles. Even with the former Super Bowl MVP starting under center, the Bears offense is still putrid. Entering Week 10, Nagy surrendered his offensive play-calling to coordinator Bill Lazor, a sign that things could be nearing its end for the head coach if the team doesn’t turn things around.

If the Bears fizzle out to end the campaign and miss out on a playoff berth, Nagy will be shown the door. Chicago would be an enticing option for Shaw, as he’ll inherit a defense that’s rock solid and he’ll get to choose his quarterback, whether that’s via free agency or the NFL Draft. Not bad.

1. Dallas Cowboys

You didn’t think you’d be here, did you Dallas Cowboys fans? Well, you’re not alone, because everyone thought the Cowboys would win the NFC East and possibly make a deep run to the NFC Championship Game with new head coach Mike McCarthy running things. If you thought the Jason Garrett years were infuriating, the McCarthy era would like you to hold their beer.

The Cowboys are sitting, unexpectedly, with a 2-7 record. Look, they didn’t receive any favors in terms in the form of an injury bug that took Dak Prescott, Tyron Smith, Gerald McCoy and La’el Collins out for the season. And their defense is among the worst in the NFL, where they were at one point on pace to break the record for most points allowed by a defense. To make things worse, players anonymously bashed McCarthy’s coaching staff to the media, which is never a good thing.

Team owner Jerry Jones has already said that he has faith in McCarthy being the guy for the Cowboys. But this is an owner who’s waited for over 20 years for another Lombardi Trophy, so he might not have as much patience as he did with Garrett. If things go disastrously bad in the final half for the season, Jones could very well look for another coach. The Cowboys have hired head coaches from the college ranks (i.e. Jimmie Johnson, Barry Switzer) and showed interest in certain collegiate coaches this past year (Lincoln Riley). They should at least consider showing interest in Shaw. Just imagine what he can do with that Cowboys offense.

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