Following a season that saw the Wildcats finish with a 6-2 record, a Big Ten West Division title, and an appearance in the Big Ten title game, NFL teams are once again targeting Pat Fitzgerald.
Adam Schefter shared this morning, NFL teams are expected to make formal requests to interview the Northwestern head coach for their head coaching jobs after Northwestern's bowl game.
Fitzgerald, who has swatted away NFL interest in years past, turned down the opportunity to interview for the opening in Green Bay before Matt LaFleur took the job heading into the 2019 season.
While the NFL interest in Fitz certainly may seem like a storyline you've heard before, there are some significant changes happening at Northwestern that makes this year different.
For one, it's worth noting that longtime defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz will retire after 51 seasons in college football, and serving as the defensive coordinator and right hand guy to Fitzgerald since joining the staff in 2008. Northwestern has fielded one of the top defenses in college football this year, holding opponents to just under 16 points per game (5th nationally) heading into last night game against the Buckeyes.
Then there's the major change to key administration in Evanston. Athletic director Jim Phillips, who has been the man in charge of Northwestern athletics since 2008 (just two years after Fitz took over the football program) was recently selected as the new commissioner of the ACC.
Meanwhile, as far as I can tell, Northwestern president Morton Schapiro has just a few years left on his contract as well, signing an extension back in 2014 to take him through 2022.
That's some significant changes at the top of the ladder in Evanston.
The potential opening to really keep an eye on here is with the hometown Chicago Bears. Born and raised in Chicago, we're told that Fitzgerald is a top target for the Bears, should the job officially come open as many expect it to. The Bears and Matt Nagy had lost six games in a row before last weekend's win over the Texans, and many believe a new direction is needed after they have slipped to 6-7 after starting the year 5-1.
Sources have shared with FootballScoop that with the turnover at Northwestern, Fitz appears more willing to consider NFL pitches this year than before.
Because of his body of work at Northwestern, especially the success they've had this year, Fitzgerald's name will be one we continue to hear connected to NFL jobs as bowl season marches on. Chicago opening would mean that he wouldn't have to move his family, and he'd be able to coach the team he grew up in the Windy City admiring. Those that know Fitz, know how much of a draw that could be.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1340658072583335938?s=21