It was Emery’s choice all the way
BY SEAN JENSEN sjensen@suntimes.com
The Bears' new head coach Marc Trestman, left, shakes hands with general manager Phil Emery, right, during a press conference at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., on Thursday, January 17, 2013. | Andrew A. Nelles~Sun-Times Media
General manager Phil Emery handpicked Marc Trestman as the Bears’ 14th coach after interviewing at least 13 other candidates.
And his bosses maintained a hands-off approach throughout the two-week process.
“That’s why we hired Phil, to make those decisions,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said. “Phil had the benefit of the interview process. He’s the one who traveled the country and spoke to all these guys, gathered the information.
“I thought it would be improper for me, after he did all that work, to impose a choice on him, so to speak. So it was a defer and a concur situation.”
Not that McCaskey had any qualms with Emery’s ultimate choice.
“I was impressed,” McCaskey said of his sit-down with Trestman. “Two words come to mind: passion and humility.
“That is a pretty potent combination.”
Not that he wasn’t impressed with Darrell Bevell and Bruce Arians, the other finalists.
He highlighted the “quiet confidence” of Bevell and Arians’ “takes over a room” personality.
But he’s most excited about Trestman’s successful history with a range of quarterbacks and his working with Jay Cutler.
“I’m looking forward to it,’’ McCaskey said. ‘‘They have a lot of similarities. They’re both talented, they’re both bright, they’re both passionate about the game and they both want to be great. I think it’ll be a good combination.”
Bears president Ted Phillips said Trestman reminded him of someone else: Emery.
“I saw a lot of what I saw in Phil: thoroughness, commitment, attention to detail, focus,’’ Phillips said.
There was some speculation that ownership suggested Emery interview Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, the former coach of the San Francisco 49ers who’s a Minnesota Vikings assistant.
“We have the utmost respect for [Singletary], as he’s been the epitome of what a Chicago Bear is all about,” McCaskey said. “So I was pleased to see he was in the process, but I didn’t recommend it, and no one else in the family did.”
Emery said Singletary was on his list from the beginning.
“Any man that’s accomplished what he’s accomplished as a player that has a passion for this team is going to be talked to. He deserved it,” Emery said. “It was my idea.’’
