For all his struggles in two seasons as the Bears’ offensive coordinator — some not of his own making — it didn’t take Dowell Loggains long to find his next job.
Three days, to be exact.
Loggains will be the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, with an asterisk. Head coach Adam Gase calls the plays. It marks a Bears reunion — Gase ran the Bears’ offense in 2015, with Loggains as the quarterbacks coach.
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Jay Cutler, who had perhaps the best season of his career that year, doesn’t figure to make it a trio. Gase said Wednesday that Ryan Tannehill, who missed last season after having surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, would start in 2018. Cutler, whom Gase coaxed out of retirement after Tannehill’s injury, doesn’t figure to return if he’s the backup.
The Bears’ offense gained little traction under Loggains, complicated by the fact that injuries forced him to use three quarterbacks in 2016 — Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley and Cutler.
The Bears parted with all three last offseason, signing Mike Glennon and drafting Mitch Trubisky No. 2 overall. Glennon lasted four games before turnovers and inaccuracy forced a change. Trubisky’s 12 starts were double that of Barkley, who had the most in 2016.
Even as coach John Fox’s firing loomed last week, Loggains said he wanted to keep working with Trubisky.
“I think the guy has a chance to be a special player,” he said. “Anytime you get to be around one of these special quarterbacks, you hope you can stay as long as you can.”
