Matt Eberflus is teetering on the edge. After two gutwrenching last-second losses in the past month, people are questioning his competence as Chicago Bears head coach from every angle. Dropping to 4-6 after starting 4-2 will do that. It doesn’t help that he’s earning a reputation for choking games away and can’t beat good teams. Barring an unexpected turnaround to end the season, the odds of him being fired have hit an all-time high. This, of course, leads to the next question.
Who replaces him?
Eyes are already turning to the 2025 coaching cycle, where names like Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Bill Belichick, and Kliff Kingsbury figure to dominate headlines. SM reported that the Bears have already begun vetting those names and others in the past few weeks. However, one source indicated an undercurrent of intrigue in Halas Hall for someone close at hand.
That is new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.
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The Chicago Bears have taken notice of Brown’s locker room impact.
Since taking over, players seem to have responded to his energy, intensity, and discipline. This was felt almost immediately on Sunday when the Bears racked up nearly 400 yards of offense and drove down the field to get in position for the winning field goal. Caleb Williams looked much calmer and more confident. Guys in the locker room clearly respond to Brown, validating the whispers around the league that he is a head coach in waiting. Keep in mind he’s worked under several different head coaches since 2011 and was an understudy of Sean McVay in Los Angeles. McVay has already produced three highly successful future head coaches: Matt Lafleur, Kevin O’Connell, and Zac Taylor.
Many see similarities between Brown and Pittsburgh Steelers mainstay Mike Tomlin. Don’t forget Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren worked with Tomlin in Minnesota. Would the team actually consider promoting from within rather than conducting another coaching search?
This is something the organization hasn’t done in 53 years. The last one was Abe Gibron in 1972. He ended up having the worst winning percentage in franchise history. After that, it was strictly outside sources. It sounds like the higher-ups will keep a close eye on Brown over the final seven weeks. He may get an opportunity to break that drought, depending on his performance.
I can see both sides of the coin in firing Flus and letting Brown show you what he can do in control of the whole team. I also can see firing Flus and giving Washington the Interim HC position. The most important thing for this team is the development of CW and the continued continuity of the offense. Do we want Brown splitting attention on OC and HC responsibilities? We don’t want a 3rd offensive playcaller in CWs ear this season. So, I lean more to, let’s see how he develops as an OC against the next 7 teams. The… Read more »
I am hard pressed to think any good or highly qualified GM, HC, and OC think and/or decide as poorly as Poles, Flus, and Shane given their many opportunities to succeed on and off the field over the last three years. I wish I was exaggerating or joking with this comment. But, at the minimum, Flus needs to be removed, and Cunningham should have major input into the draft selections from a position of power and authority. The Bears require a GREAT 2025 draft.
Promoting Brown would be one way to break the HC/ GM ccle in Chicago. Brown will likely get interviews for HC fo other teams. If he performs over the next couple weeks, pull the plug n Eberflus and promote Brown as Interim HC. Get a jump n the process for once.
@David & @Doc M … My worry. They screw around and see him go somewhere else & be the HC they many others around the league KNOW he is going to be. He already in one week improved the offense, and his the type of demeanor you want in a HC. He has two things in his favor that no outside candidate for HC has: he knows the players already and he has the confidence of those players. @Tred … Spot on. Maybe more than a test drive .. a confirmation of what he is already believed to be. Also,… Read more »
Bring back Ted Phillips!