The Chicago Bears tapped into a familiar pipeline with their request to interview Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich. After their experience with Luke Getsy, the questions are obvious.
Stenavich must prove his other experiences are as much a part of who he is as the Packers have been.
Adam Stenavich’s Journey to Bears Interview Includes Notable Stop
Record as OC: 28-23
Playoff Record: 1-2
Packers Rebuild Could Be Key to Adam Stenavich’s Bears Interview
Stenavich has spent the past three seasons as the Packers OC. During his tenure, the Packers offense went from 14th in scoring to No. 8 this past season. They rose from 17th in total offense to a top-five unit in 2024.
There was also the commitment to the running game, which helped the Packers go 2-0 with Malik Willis at quarterback in place of an injured Jordan Love.
The Packers ranked fifth in rushing in 2024.
Stenavich has been with the Packers organization for six years, starting in 2019. He was their offensive line coach for three seasons before becoming OC, adding run game coordinator to his title in 2021.
Before that, Stenavich spent two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers under head coach Kyle Shanahan as assistant line coach.
Stenavich spent five years in the college coaching ranks before making the leap to the NFL.
He began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at Michigan, his alma mater, before moving on to Northern Arizona as an offensive line coach for one season. He took the same role with San Jose State for two seasons before making his NFL transition.
Bears Tempting Fate, Fans
The eye rolls in reaction to this interview are warranted. If the Bears – and general manager Ryan Poles, particular – have learned anything following former OC Luke Getsy’s tenure, it should at least be to stay away from this pool of coaches.
That is not to denigrate them.
However, one would have to ignore the fact that Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur was an offensive coordinator in his past life and is the team’s playcaller.
That was true for Getsy – who was the passing game coordinator and QBs coach in Green Bay – just as it was true for Nathaniel Hackett whose tenure as head coach of the Denver Broncos lasted one season and has been slammed by his successor, Sean Payton.
Aside from LaFleur, the Packers’ depth of talent along the offensive line helped them a lot.
The Packers had two second-round picks, one third-round, one fourth, and one player selected in the seventh round all start at least 16 games in 2204.
The Bears must determine who much of that is on coaching and how much is a testament to their scouting department for finding players with such upside. That is if Stenvich is a legitimate candidate for the position or a smoke screen as the Bears waited out the rest of their field.
They should begin the second round of interviews next week.
Then, their list of candidates should be whittled down greatly, and we have already seen them handle different candidates differently.