Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is out of the hospital now after missing the Saturday AFC Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens and expected to start interviewing for several open head coaching positions over the course of the next week. The Chicago Bears are one of the teams that wants to talk to Arians and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger thinks his former offensive coordinator would be a good fit for the Bears, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
“As long as Jay is willing to be open to being coached by a guy like B.A.,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday, per the report by Biggs. “Not really knowing Jay, I can even say that because I know Jay will like B.A. because B.A. is that kind of guy. He’s gonna like Jay and he wants to work with guys. Guys really respect him. I think he would be able to not only work with but be great with Jay and I think Jay would like him a lot.”
Roethlisberger would go on to tell Biggs that Arians really helped him understand the offense during his time in Pittsburgh and was patient while doing so. He also said that he believes that Arians has the personality to work well with an entire team in addition.
As far as dealing with players, Roethlisberger told Biggs, “He’s not just a screamer. He knows how to get in your face, he knows how to not get in your face and talk to you. So, I think he’s the kind of guy you respect and want to play for.”
None of the things that Roethlisberger said to Biggs are shocking at all and they are exactly what you would expect the Steelers quarterback to say about Arians, who he reportedly stays in close contact with on a weekly basis. While many will try to read between the lines of the quote about Arians not being just a screamer as a dig at Todd Haley, I really don\’t see it that way.
In addition to the Bears, Arians has also been linked to the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Diego Chargers as well. He is not a slam dunk to get any of those jobs, however, and certainly could wind up remaining with the Colts to continue his tutelage of quarterback Andrew Luck.
