Bill Cowher To the Chicago Bears?

The NFL Network is reporting that an unnamed source claims that former Steelers head coach and Super Bowl winner Bill Cowher would be interested in coaching either the Chicago Bears or Houston Texans next season.

Several sources close to Cowher himself admitted that the former NFL Coach of the Year, is ready to get back into the league after taking two years off, although they did not specify teams.

Cowher's name was already linked with the job opening in Buffalo, but he informed the team that he would wait until the offseason before deciding whether to return. But speculation is that he is waiting until the end of the year to see what other jobs are open.

The Carolina Panthers are another team linked to Cowher if they decide to part ways with long-time head coach John Fox, since Cowher currently lives in Raleigh, N.C.

Whether the Bears would be willing to make this move—if it is, in fact, true—is open for debate.

First off, they would have to fire coach Lovie Smith and in doing so, pay him the roughly $10.5 million that he would be owed. And second, they would have to cough up anywhere from $5-10 million per year for Cowher to come to the Windy City.

Any Bears fan can tell you that the McCaskey family is not exactly what you would call a big spender, but Cowher would bring the fire and defensive intensity that the Bears seem to lack at times.

Plus, if Lovie were let go, offensive coordinator Ron Turner would also be out the door, which means a new and hopefully more successful offensive scheme for Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, and the rest of the offense to work with in the future.

So how 'bout it, Chicago?

ADDITION: 670 The Score's Hub Arkush reports that Bears braintrust have made "informal inquires" to several big name coaches. He does say it is still a long shot, but if it is true, that is more than I thought the Bears upper management were capable of doing.

Podcast link here: http://podcast.670thescore.com/wscr2/2078260.mp3