Matt Eberflus came in with a plan. He felt his H.I.T.S principle could translate to making the Chicago Bears a successful organization once again. Over the past years, one thing has become apparent. The man wasn’t prepared. It is alarming how out of his depth he seems as the 2023 season spirals out of control. Not only are the Bears 0-3, none of the three games were even close. Justin Fields has bottomed out as a quarterback, and Eberflus’ prized defense has been railroaded by every quarterback they’ve faced.
His 3-17 start is far and away the worst record any Bears head coach has ever produced in his first 20 games. It doesn’t look like it will get better, either. The team is in total disarray. Players look defeated before stepping on the field, and controversies continue to follow them off it. Everything points to Eberflus becoming only the second head coach of the Super Bowl era to get fired after two seasons by the Bears. Then, it will be about finding a replacement.
Here are prominent names to watch.
Matt Eberflus is unequal to the task. Maybe one of these guys is.
Experienced head coaches:
Jim Harbaugh (Michigan)
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The Bears have avoided Harbaugh despite multiple opportunities since he left San Francisco in 2015. While they have sunk to rock bottom, he has continued to find success. He’s turned Michigan back into a national powerhouse, but everybody knows he wants to get back into the NFL. Rumors have insisted for years that the Bears are his dream job. If anybody can re-establish a standard of winning, it would be him. Harbaugh knows the city and knows how to unite a locker room. The only caveat is he’s already in his 60s. So it would be a shorter window.
Dan Quinn (Dallas Cowboys DC)
Chicago had a chance to hire Quinn last year but opted for Eberflus instead. The former Atlanta Falcons head coach returned to Dallas, where he continues to coordinate one of the NFL’s best defenses. Don’t forget this man came minutes away from winning the Super Bowl. He’s a proven motivator that obsesses over details. Players love him. Bears fans probably won’t want another defensive guy after Eberflus, but there is no denying that Quinn continues to find lots of success.
Jim Schwartz (Cleveland Browns DC)
People forget that Schwartz is no stranger to rebuilding jobs. He inherited the monumental task of rebuilding the 2008 Lions team that went 0-16. Three years later, he had them in the playoffs. Since leaving, he’s continued a long run of success as a defensive coordinator. Schwartz was crucial to Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory in 2017. Now, he’s the primary reason Cleveland is off to a 2-1 start. Schwartz is a no-nonsense guy with a fiery temperament. Maybe that is what this organization needs.
Raheem Morris (Los Angeles Rams DC)
Morris has quietly built a respectable reputation around the NFL. He dragged Josh Freeman to a 10-6 record in 2010 as head coach in Tampa Bay. While that didn’t pan out, it was a sign that he knew what he was doing. He went 4-2 in Atlanta right after Quinn was fired due to a 0-5 start in 2020. The following year, he helped the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl as their defensive coordinator. It’s hard to believe he is still only 47 years old. The man appears ready for another opportunity.
Hotshot offensive coordinators:
Kellen Moore (Los Angeles Chargers OC)
If we’re talking about somebody young, experienced, and ready for his shot? Moore is that guy. He was the offensive coordinator for four years in Dallas, during which they had a top-six scoring offense three times. This year, he moved over to Los Angeles, where he has Justin Herbert off to the best start of his career, throwing for 939 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. There is no longer any denying that the guy understands how to help a quarterback find success. He’s proven, experienced, and been in the spotlight for years. If the Bears want their best chance to finally develop a quarterback, Moore might be the guy.
Eric Bieniemy (Washington Commanders OC)
Like Moore, Bieniemy left a steady gig with a proven organization to prove that he wasn’t the product of the head coach’s success. Washington was a perfect opportunity. Things got off to a good start with quarterback Sam Howell throwing three touchdowns and one interception in two games, both wins. Things took a nasty turn on Sunday, with Howell throwing four interceptions. So, Bieniemy’s stock is in flux. Still, the man is highly experienced, has multiple Super Bowl rings, and has learned from two proven coaches, Andy Reid and Ron Rivera.
Shane Waldron (Seattle Seahawks OC)
Sean McVay is another head coach who seems to produce quality underlings. Matt Lafleur, Zac Taylor, and Kevin O’Connell have all succeeded as head coaches. Waldron has learned under some outstanding coaches. McVay is one. Bill Belichick and now Pete Carroll are others. Seattle brought him in two years ago to fix their offense. His work with Geno Smith since the start of 2022 is nothing short of exemplary. The former draft bust made the Pro Bowl last year and has four touchdowns to only one interception in three games this year.
Ben Johnson (Detroit Lions OC)
Detroit made the unorthodox move of firing Anthony Lynn midseason last year and replacing him with Johnson. Now we know why. The young assistant has completely transformed the Lions offense into one of the NFL’s most efficient and explosive. He has resurrected the career of Jared Goff. It is incredible to think he is this successful at only 37 years old. That makes it difficult to determine his readiness for a head coaching job. Still, if he helps guide Detroit to the playoffs, somebody will hire him.
Bobby Slowik (Houston Texans OC)
Kyle Shanahan’s disciples seem to be doing pretty well. Mike McDaniel is clicking on all cylinders in Miami. Perhaps Slowik can be the same. He’s already done some impressive work with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who has over 900 yards passing in his first three games. He is only the third player in NFL history to accomplish that. The concern is Slowik is only in his first years, and he’s 36 years old. Very young and still relatively inexperienced.
Dave Canales (Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC)
Matt Eberflus matched wits with Canales in Week 2, and the young Buccaneers coordinator thoroughly outfoxed him. Canales is pulling off what many consider a miracle: Baker Mayfield’s resurrection as a starting quarterback. His 490 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions is one of the best starts of his career. Much of that is courtesy of Canales’ play calling. Like Waldron, Canales is a Pete Carroll understudy. He was part of the organization when they won the Super Bowl in 2013. Is he ready? This is his first year as a coordinator, so it’s hard to make that case.
Harbaugh….period…full stop
give coach prime a blank check
Literally Harbough could be the Ditka of the 2020’s. He already has proved his ability. Crack open the Wallet and let’s get a GIVEN verses the “best bet” on up an commers.
(Anybody who could coach up the palooka (Kaepernick) to get 49’ers into a Superbowl is a guy who could take Fields to the next level or turn Bagent truly into a Brock Purdy.
I’ll take Harbaugh for 500 Alex
To determine the next HC, we really need to know which over-the-hill dinosaur ownership will hire as a consultant next off-season.