It is never fun to think about possible new head coach options with seven games left in a season. Sadly, that is where the Chicago Bears find themselves. Matt Eberflus has had arguably the worst month of his coaching career. After starting 4-2 this season, everything has gone wrong since the bye week. It began with the Hail Mary loss in Washington. Then came back-to-back blowout losses to Arizona and New England before another brutal last-second loss, this time to Green Bay on a blocked field goal. On top of that, Eberflus had to fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after just nine games due to incompetence.
Most of the blame for this downturn can be laid at the head coach’s feet. With the most demanding schedule in the NFL remaining, there is almost no chance the Bears will make the playoffs, let alone improve on their 7-10 record of last season. This is why whispers have already begun that the organization is looking for possible replacements. Two sources informed SM that one name that has their attention is Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
The Chicago Bears’ interest in Freeman likely comes from two angles.
For one, he actually has ties to the organization. He was a 5th round pick for them in 2009, spending training camp with the team that year. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire a year later due to an enlarged heart condition. He jumped into coaching from there and managed to rise to become head coach of the Irish in only a decade. Since then, the program has improved each year, going from 9-4 to 10-3 and is now 10-1. They look like a strong contender for the College Football Playoffs.
The other part is Chicago Bears team president Kevin Warren. He has deep connections across the college football world, having served as Big Ten commissioner between 2019 and 2023. It isn’t a surprise he’d be looking down that avenue for possible head coaching options. Freeman received some NFL buzz last year, but nothing came of it. Most believe he loves it in South Bend.
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His reputation speaks for itself. Freeman is known for excellent leadership and motivational skills. He’s played and worked under highly successful coaches like Jim Tressel, Lovie Smith, Gary Kubiak, and Luke Fickell. The Bears haven’t hired a head coach straight from college since Ralph Jones in 1930.
No,no,no. At a bare minimum it has to be a Successful OC or previous HC with offensive background.
@jim Jones
The Bears SHOULD consider college coaches on their coaching team, if not head coach. They have an abysmal record of developing talent and that is a major part of every college program.
@Rocketrider Only fans would think along those lines of race or whatever issue you have. Companies and organizations want the best people they can get. When you lose enough, just like when you get beat in a UFC octagon, you don’t attribute your losses to the other guy’s color, just his training, his weight, his size or whatever. You start looking as people as “special” people. Fans think their $2.50 is their “investment” in caring. The world is a bigger place than $2.50 and incessant losing. That’s the same reason the NFL is trying to squeeze out the best and… Read more »
They need to get this next HC selection correct, therefore I don’t see them gambling on a college coach. Not many college coaches have made the jump successfully. Saben, Kelly, even Kingsbury when he jumped to the Cardinals. There’s normally a transition period before college coaches start to succeed at the NFL level and we don’t have the time for a transition period with Caleb on his Rookie contract.
For his own good, Marcus should stay where he is at.