9 head coach choices for the Chicago Bears, ranked by finest 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 discipline purpose 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 workforce’s head coach.

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

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

9. Kliff Kingsbury, OC, Washington Commanders

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This could be an outside-the-box rent, however there’s 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’ ultimate 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 report 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.

In brief, whereas he could be 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 concerning simply how a lot Belichick needs to stay centered on teaching, and never deal with common supervisor duties as properly. Whereas stories 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 snug 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 position with the Arizona Cardinals.

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

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

This could be a yr or two forward of schedule for Petzing to be thought-about for head teaching roles, but when creating Williams is the principle purpose 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 guide with the Cleveland Browns, there are rumors that Vrable may very well be the subsequent head coach in Cleveland ought to the group half methods with Kevin Stefanski.

If not in Cleveland, Vrabel will doubtless 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 essentially the most hype across the league” with regards to potential head coaches for 2025.

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

5. Liam Coen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Liam Coen has spent a lifetime across the quarterback place.

Which may make him an excellent candidate to take over in Chicago.

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

After a quick Enviornment League profession Coen moved to teaching, beginning out within the faculty ranks. He ultimately moved as much as develop into the offensive coordinator at Maine, earlier than he leapt to the NFL as an assistant extensive receivers coach with the Los Angeles Rams. Coen ultimately returned to the faculty ranks, becoming a member of this system in Kentucky because the workforce’s offensive coordinator for 2021. He then returned to the Rams for the 2022 season because the workforce’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 could be early for Coen to be getting NFL head coach consideration, but when creating 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 develop into a head coach sometime. Brady was the workforce’s passing recreation coordinator, and dealing with NFL-caliber gamers in Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson actually made life simple on him.

However future usually 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 way of 2023 to offensive coordinator when Buffalo fired Ken Dorsey.

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

3. Aaron Glenn, DC, Detroit Lions

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Even with the concept that creating Williams is the precedence in Chicago — which means an offensive-minded head coach is the play for the Bears — Aaron Glenn is an amazing 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 Enviornment League earlier than becoming a member of the New York Jets as a scout. After two seasons in that position, 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 underneath Dan Campbell and has constructed one of many NFL’s finest defenses. His gamers love him on that aspect of the soccer, and he has expertise drawing up recreation plans towards the remainder of the division.

Ought to the Bears go together with a defensive-minded head coach — after simply shifting on from one in Eberflus — Glenn could be 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, no less than for the second. The remainder of the 2024 season may very well be an prolonged interview for Brown, and if he exhibits that the workforce might be aggressive — and that Williams develops the best way the Bears want him to — underneath his steerage the job might very properly be his.

1. Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions

Ben Johnson has been the recent 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 throughout the 2023 cycle however withdrew his identify from consideration and returned to his OC position 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.

Possibly he simply likes being a head coach?

That’s actually his prerogative, but it surely doesn’t forestall us from viewing him as the most suitable choice in Chicago for the Bears. In any case, take a look at what he has performed with Jared Goff. Below his steerage, Goff has gone from a possible bridge quarterback in Detroit to develop into the face of the franchise, and Johnson’s position in that can not be overstated. Lots of the route ideas you see Johnson name for Goff date again to the quarterback’s days in faculty at California, and the coach has proven a willingness to tailor his offense to what makes his QB snug.

That’s ideally suited for QB growth and may very well be ideally suited for Williams.

Which is the precedence in Chicago.