9 head coach choices for the Chicago Bears, ranked by greatest match

The Chicago Bears want a brand new head coach.

Within the wake of Thursday’s excruciating 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions — one which noticed Caleb Williams and the Bears offense drive inside subject aim vary within the closing seconds however fail to even try the kick after Williams took a sack, a move fell incomplete, and time ran out with Chicago nonetheless holding a timeout — Matt Eberflus was fired because the group’s head coach.

Throughout his time in Chicago, Eberflus posted a 14-32 file. The Bears by no means superior to the playoffs throughout his tenure.

Thomas Brown steps into the function on an interim foundation and is among the many record of potential choices for Chicago. Listed here are 9 choices for the Chicago Bears’ subsequent head coach, ranked by who could be the very best match for the group, and for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, whose growth is a precedence for the group.

9. Kliff Kingsbury, OC, Washington Commanders

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This is perhaps an outside-the-box rent, however there may be benefit to the concept of Chicago hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their subsequent head coach. One can level to how Jayden Daniels started the season in Washington, wanting each bit like a possible NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months candidate, and picture that Kingsbury might assist the event of Caleb Williams, which will probably be job one for whoever takes over as the pinnacle coach in Chicago.

These two additionally spent the 2023 season collectively at USC, with Kingsbury serving as a senior offensive analyst with the Trojans throughout Williams’ last yr on campus.

Nonetheless, what would possibly give Chicago pause is the mix of Kingsbury’s tenure in Arizona — he was let go after posting a 28-37-1 file with a single playoff look — in addition to the trendline proven by his offenses within the NFL. They begin red-hot, however end something however.

Briefly, whereas he is perhaps an possibility, there are extra intriguing ones for the Bears.

8. Invoice Belichick, former HC, New England Patriots

Properly, this could be fairly the rent for the Bears.

Bringing in a coach with a resume like Invoice Belichick’s could be a lightning strike of a transfer for the Bears.

Nonetheless, questions stay relating to simply how a lot Belichick desires to stay centered on teaching, and never deal with common supervisor duties as effectively. Whereas studies indicated that Belichick, when interviewing for the Atlanta Falcons job final winter, made it clear he could be keen to surrender GM duties at his subsequent cease, it stays to be seen how comfy he could be doing so, and the way a possible Belichick-Ryan Poles relationship would work.

7. Drew Petzing, OC, Arizona Cardinals

Yearly a brand new coordinator rockets into the pinnacle coach hiring cycle. Final yr it was Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator Bobby Slownik.

This yr it’s Drew Petzing, who holds that function with the Arizona Cardinals.

Petzing is in his eleventh yr within the league, having began as a soccer operations intern with the Cleveland Browns through the 2013 season, working his method by means of the offensive ranks in Cleveland and Minnesota earlier than transferring to the Cardinals in 2023 as an offensive coordinator.

This yr he has crafted one of many NFL’s best offenses, rating effectively above league common in each Anticipated Factors Added per Move, and EPA/Run.

This is perhaps a yr or two forward of schedule for Petzing to be thought of for head teaching roles, but when growing Williams is the principle aim in Chicago, he could be price a search for the Bears.

6. Mike Vrabel, former HC, Tennessee Titans

Since departing as the pinnacle coach of the Tennessee Titans, Mike Vrabel has been linked with a number of open jobs within the NFL ranks. Presently serving as a marketing consultant with the Cleveland Browns, there are rumors that Vrable might be the following head coach in Cleveland ought to the group half methods with Kevin Stefanski.

If not in Cleveland, Vrabel will probably be teaching once more subsequent yr, as he has already been linked with the anticipated emptiness in New York with the Jets, and in keeping with Dianna Russini of The Athletic, it’s Vrable who’s “getting probably the most hype across the league” in terms of potential head coaches for 2025.

His background on the defensive aspect of the ball — and the necessity to make growing Williams a precedence in Chicago — won’t make him the best slot in Chicago.

5. Liam Coen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Liam Coen has spent a lifetime across the quarterback place.

That may make him a super candidate to take over in Chicago.

Coen was a four-year starter at Massachusetts in school, the place his favourite goal was Victor Cruz, and nonetheless holds various the college’s passing data.

After a short Area League profession Coen moved to teaching, beginning out within the school ranks. He ultimately moved as much as grow to be the offensive coordinator at Maine, earlier than he leapt to the NFL as an assistant broad receivers coach with the Los Angeles Rams. Coen ultimately returned to the faculty ranks, becoming a member of this system in Kentucky because the group’s offensive coordinator for 2021. He then returned to the Rams for the 2022 season because the group’s OC, earlier than going again to the Wildcats for 2023 as their OC/QB coach.

That cycle broke this previous season, as Coen joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator.

It is perhaps early for Coen to be getting NFL head coach consideration, but when growing a QB is the precedence, Coen will get a glance.

4. Joe Brady, OC, Buffalo Payments

As a member of the LSU teaching employees throughout their run to a nationwide title in 2019, it appeared Joe Brady was destined to grow to be a head coach sometime. Brady was the group’s passing recreation coordinator, and dealing with NFL-caliber gamers in Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson definitely made life straightforward on him.

However future typically takes detours, and his tenure because the offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers was underwhelming. Brady took a job because the quarterbacks coach with the Buffalo Payments for the 2022 season however was promoted halfway by means of 2023 to offensive coordinator when Buffalo fired Ken Dorsey.

Now, Brady once more seems to be like an NFL head coach in ready. Though getting to educate Josh Allen may need one thing to do with that, and it stays to be seen how efficient Brady might be at growing a younger quarterback as he could be doing in Chicago.

3. Aaron Glenn, DC, Detroit Lions

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Even with the concept growing Williams is the precedence in Chicago — that means an offensive-minded head coach is the play for the Bears — Aaron Glenn is an incredible possibility for the group.

After his NFL enjoying days got here to an finish Glenn began out on the personnel aspect, first because the Common Supervisor of the Houston Stallions within the Area League earlier than becoming a member of the New York Jets as a scout. After two seasons in that function, Glenn moved to the sideline, beginning out as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns earlier than spending 4 years because the defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints.

He joined the Lions in 2021 because the defensive coordinator below Dan Campbell and has constructed one of many NFL’s greatest defenses. His gamers love him on that aspect of the soccer, and he has expertise drawing up recreation plans in opposition to the remainder of the division.

Ought to the Bears go together with a defensive-minded head coach — after simply transferring on from one in Eberflus — Glenn is perhaps their best choice.

2. Thomas Brown, interim HC, Chicago Bears

Thomas Brown started the season because the passing recreation coordinator for the Chicago Bears.

He has since been promoted to offensive coordinator — with the firing of Shane Waldron — and now interim head coach with the termination of Matt Eberflus.

That makes it appear that the entrance workplace in Chicago has religion in Brown, at the least for the second. The remainder of the 2024 season might be an prolonged interview for Brown, and if he exhibits that the group could be aggressive — and that Williams develops the way in which the Bears want him to — below his steerage the job might very effectively be his.

1. Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions

Ben Johnson has been the new identify in every of the previous few hiring cycles.

However every time, Johnson has elected to return to Detroit with the Lions.

He was among the many favorites for the open Carolina Panthers head teaching place through the 2023 cycle however withdrew his identify from consideration and returned to his OC function with the Lions. Then final winter he was maybe the favourite for the job in Washington with the Commanders, however pulled himself out of rivalry as Washington’s key decision-makers had been on a flight to Detroit to satisfy with him.

Perhaps he simply likes being a head coach?

That’s definitely his prerogative, however it doesn’t forestall us from viewing him as the best choice in Chicago for the Bears. In spite of everything, have a look at what he has completed with Jared Goff. Beneath his steerage, Goff has gone from a possible bridge quarterback in Detroit to grow to be the face of the franchise, and Johnson’s function in that can not be overstated. Most of the route ideas you see Johnson name for Goff date again to the quarterback’s days in school at California, and the coach has proven a willingness to tailor his offense to what makes his QB comfy.

That’s supreme for QB growth and might be supreme for Williams.

Which is the precedence in Chicago.