Well, it finally happened—Matt Eberflus is out as the Bears’ head coach. Honestly, the writing was on the wall for a while. Chicago’s embarrassing loss to the Lions last week was just the final whistle. But this was the first time in franchise history, the Bears fired a coach midseason. And now, the search for a replacement begins—again.
Whoever joins will be the fifth head coach since Lovie Smith’s exit in 2012. For now, as expected, the interim reins have been handed to OC Thomas Brown… But wait a minute: he’s not just holding the clipboard. Instead, he’s auditioning for the full-time gig. And why not? Brown’s stock has been quietly rising, and his recent work speaks volumes. Especially, the work he has done with Caleb Williams.
No picks, a 99.2 passer rating in the opening three games (since Brown took over as the OC)—yeah, that’s impressive. Brown’s direct, no-nonsense coaching style could be just what the Bears need to steer this team forward. But will five games be enough to convince the front office? It’s a long shot, but it’s also a golden opportunity for Brown to cement his case as the permanent solution. But Brown has some tough challenges to shrug off.
How about Ben Johnson? The Lions’ offensive mastermind is an obvious top choice. He’s the architect behind Detroit’s explosiveness this season and has proven he knows how to develop QBs. So, it’s not a surprise that Johnson is in demand. He passed on head coaching offers last year, and if the Lions go on a deep playoff run, the Bears might have to wait—and that could cost them other promising candidates. Is patience worth the potential payoff? Just ask the 49ers how waiting for Kyle Shanahan worked out. Could be as sweet as that, but Chicago must move in pronto after Matt Eberflus’ firing.
That’s where Joe Brady enters the fold. The Bills are strong postseason contenders? Yeah, hand it to Brady… Under his watch, Buffalo’s offense is top three in scoring, and Josh Allen is having an MVP-caliber season. Brady’s knack for developing quarterbacks makes him an intriguing option, especially considering his track record with Joe Burrow back at LSU. Boy, oh, boy, Burrow in college was a beast you didn’t wanna mess with. But would Chicago take a gamble on a coach still in his 30s? Youthful innovation or lack of experience—it’s a coin toss.
Other names include ex-Titans HC Mike Vrabel (also ‘wanted’ by Jets’ fans more than the franchise) and Liam Coen, the Bucs’ OC. While, Vrabel has that aura about him—firm, and defensive with his approach, and playoff experience—Coen, on the other hand, is all about offense. He turned Baker Mayfield into what we’re seeing this season and knows how to build around talent. As for Vrabel, only one question arises: Does his style fit a young QB like Williams?
And yeah, by now you can tell that whoever lands the job has one mission: build around Caleb Williams. That’s given. Whether it’s Brown, Johnson, or someone else, the Bears need a coach who can elevate their young QB and redefine the team’s identity. Something Matt Eberflus failed to do and for which he was shown the way towards the neon board (EXIT in all caps).
Matt Eberflus lost the locker room
If you thought the Bears’ woes ended on the field, buckle up. The postgame locker room after their loss to the Lions was chaos, and Matt Eberflus wasn’t exactly rallying the troops. Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Eberflus delivered a “unity” speech to players, probably trying to patch things up. But Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson wasn’t having it. Word is, Johnson “went off” on the coach, and other players chimed in, demanding answers for Eberflus’ head-scratching decision not to use the final timeout. Seriously, who doesn’t call a timeout in crunch time?
Here’s the scene: 33 seconds left, trailing by three, the Bears had the ball on the Lions’ 41-yard line. Then came the Caleb Williams sack, pushing them out of field goal range. Did Eberflus stop the clock to regroup? Nope. He let precious seconds tick away before attempting a deep pass that went nowhere. Cue the meltdown. As one unnamed player put it: “Too many times we’ve fought back only to lose because of bad time management.” Ouch.
By Friday morning, the Bears’ ownership had seen enough, and the clock ran out on Matt Eberflus’ fuse. In the process, they rewrote franchise history, too. That’s something. But the drama didn’t stop there. Eberflus was still trotted out for a 9 a.m. press conference before being fired two hours later. Talk about awkwardness. And with that, interim OC Thomas Brown was handed the reins as the Bears’ interim head coach.
Now, Brown’s got a tall task: prove he can steer the ship, fix the offense, and get rookie QB back on track. For a team starved for accountability, Brown’s straightforwardness might be just what the Bears need. But in the NFL, it’s all about results. Week 14 against the 49ers? That’s his first big test.
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