Have you ever seen the movie Remember the Titans? Yeah, if there’s ever a sequel, it better be about Eddie George. Oh, you want to know why? He’s the walking legend who went up against Peyton Manning‘s Colts in 1999 and moved on to the AFC Championship Game with a 19-16 victory. And if you think that’s not enough, in the same year, the Titans made it to the Super Bowl as well. Yes, their only Super Bowl appearance to date. He was a machine who played 128 consecutive games. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in seven of his first eight seasons. The legend also bagged four Pro Bowls, engraving his place among the NFL’s OG running backs.

The clock is ticking, and the hunt for the new Bears’ coach is only getting more intense. In the midst of it all, Eddie also got the opportunity to become the HC. But wait— the situation is way deeper than it looks on the surface. Fans have been hollering all over the internet that the Bears may be just ticking a box for the Rooney Rule by considering George. Hmmm, that’s honestly something to give two thoughts to. One fan even tweeted, “They are satisfying the Rooney Rule. Ben Johnson will be the Bears’ HC by the end of the week.”

I know, you must be thinking, why is Ben Johnson in the picture now after the Lions’ loss? Well, there are two sides to this story. On one hand, you’ve got fans excited about the idea of Johnson joining the Bears. On the other hand, there’s backlash from critics questioning whether he’s truly the best fit for the job or if the Bears are just playing it safe. Ben is available for the Bears since the Lions were knocked out of the playoffs in the NFC Divisional Round. They’ve been eyeing the OC for a while now, and it raised eyebrows when Eddie George’s name came to light.

After leaving his mark on the NFL, Eddie George’s love for the game didn’t end. He went on to become the coach of Tennessee State. It wasn’t just a simple gig to make some money; he was actually putting his all into it. In his four years as their coach, he earned an impressive 24-22 record. Not only that, he was named Big South OVC Coach of the Year and finished second for the Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year. All of this must have happened because he is as dedicated a coach as he was a player.

However, this new opportunity to shift from college to the NFL will be a challenge. The challenge of handling professional athletes, game management, and working under immense pressure. These are all areas where George has no NFL-level experience. That’s where the ‘Rooney Rule‘ comes into play.

Would the Bears find Eddie George a good fit?

If fans are to be believed, they are calling out the Bears with calls of “Rooney Rule” being prominent. The rule states NFL teams have to interview at least one ‘ethnic-minority or female candidate‘ for certain positions. As this fan pointed out, “This morning as in Sunday the interview will be done, the Rooney rule is compliant, and they make a hire tomorrow?” They are talking about Ben Johnson being the primary choice for the team, making George’s interview just a farce.

Echoes of similar sentiments remained prominent among fans, as one pointed out, “I appreciate this note. Now we know they have the Rooney rule satisfied so if they can put their foot on the gas for McCarthy, Johnson, whomever, they can. As much as we can decry the Bears’ leadership/coaching woes, they’re about as diverse as any team for quite a few years.” The situation brings to mind what recently happened with the New England Patriots. They interviewed minority candidates like Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich before ultimately choosing Mike Vrabel. He was reportedly their top choice all along.

Former NFL player Ryan Clark recently criticized this approach on Inside the NFL, saying, “I think this kind of puts a light on the Rooney Rule, which, to me, the New England Patriots made a mockery of.” This raises concerns that the Bears might follow the same pattern, merely ticking the Rooney Rule box before selecting Ben Johnson as their head coach. And one more fan called out the same, “Rooney Rule will be satisfied…time to zero in on Ben Johnson.” George’s interview is surely raising questions among NFL fans. I mean, it’s understandable, there have been no major doubts on who the Bears want as their HC.

Notably, for the Bears, who are in desperate need of a leader, the decision to hire Eddie George might feel more like a gamble than a calculated move. The question is, are they ready to take the risk of a fresh perspective, or will they lean toward the most obvious choice? We’ll know soon.