Like the hundreds of other comments on here mentioning how the engines were too far forward. The 737 was originally designed to be low to the ground, and rather than raising the jet and placing engines where they are on other similar planes (meaning it could no longer be classified as a 737 and requiring new manuals/training/certification), they moved them forward and adjusted for the new unexpected handling with the MCAS.
If I remember correctly, the 737 either doesn't have the space for longer landing gear, or there's an issue with the longer landing gear, or both. Citation needed, of course, as this is off of memory.
It was designed lower to be easier to work with ground handling and servicing. This lead to a few different designs of plane-deployed airstairs and made it popular with Alaska Air and other airlines serving small airports.
