9 head coach options for the Chicago Bears, ranked by best fit

of chicago bears We need a new head coach.

After a crushing 23-20 loss on Thursday. detroit lions — Caleb Williams and the Bears offense got into field goal range in the final seconds, but Williams couldn't even attempt a kick after getting sacked, resulting in an incomplete pass and Chicago holding a timeout as time expired. The game ended — Matt Eberflus was fired as the team's head coach.

During his time in Chicago, Eberflus had a record of 14 wins and 32 losses. During his tenure, the Bears never made the playoffs.

Thomas Brown has stepped into the role on an interim basis and is among Chicago's list of potential options. Here are nine options for the Chicago Bears' next head coach, ranked by who will be the best fit for the team and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, whose development is a priority.

9. Kliff Kingsbury, OC, Washington Commanders

While this may be an unconventional hire, there is merit to the idea of ​​Chicago hiring Kliff Kingsbury as its next head coach. He points out how Jaden Daniels started the season in Washington, looking like a candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year from all angles, and that Kingsbury might be able to help Caleb Williams develop. Some people may imagine it. Chicago head coach.

The two also spent the 2023 season together at USC, with Kingsbury serving as the Trojans' senior offensive analyst during Williams' final year on campus.

But it's Kingsbury's pairing from his time at Arizona that could give Chicago pause. He was fired after compiling a 28-37-1 record with one playoff appearance. trend line is displayed By his crimes in the NFL. They start out red hot, but nothing happens in the end.

In short, he may be an option, but the Bears have far more interesting players.

8. Bill Belichick, former New England Patriots head coach

Well, this would be quite a hire for the Bears.

Bringing in a coach with Bill Belichick's pedigree would be a shock move for the Bears.

But questions remain about how much Belichick wants to remain focused on coaching and not take on general manager duties. According to reports, Belichick said during the interview, atlanta falcons After leaving the job last winter, he has made it clear he is willing to step down as GM at his next stop, but it remains to be seen how comfortable he will be doing so and how potential Belichick and Ryan It remains to be seen how the Pauls' relationship will work out.

7. Drew Petzing, OC, Arizona Cardinals

Every year, a new coordinator joins the head coach hiring cycle. That was the case last year houston texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slonik;

This year, that role will be filled by Drew Petzing. arizona cardinals.

Petzing is in his 11th year with the league, starting as an intern in football operations. cleveland browns He joined the Cardinals as offensive coordinator in 2023 after spending time on the offensive line with Cleveland and Minnesota during the 2013 season.

This year, he built one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL, well above league average in both expected points added per pass and EPA/run.

Petzing may be considered for the head coaching job a year or two earlier than planned, but if Williams' development is Chicago's main goal, he could be worth keeping an eye on for the Bears. .

6. Mike Vrabel, former head coach, Tennessee Titans

Since retiring as head coach, tennessee titansMike Vrabel is rumored to have several job openings in the NFL ranks. Currently serving as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns, there are rumors that Vrable could become Cleveland's next head coach if Cleveland partes ways with Kevin Stefanski.

Even if he's not in Cleveland, Vrabel will already be coaching next year. Expected number of seats available in New York According to the Jets' Deanna Russini: athletic, Vrable has “the most hype around the league” in terms of 2025 head coaching candidates.

Given his history on the defensive side of the ball and the need for Chicago to make Williams' development a priority, he may not be an ideal fit for Chicago.

5. Liam Cohen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Liam Cohen has spent his entire life centered around the quarterback position.

That could make him the ideal candidate to take over in Chicago.

Cohen was a four-year starter at the University of Massachusetts in college, his favorite target being Victor Cruz, and still holds many of the school's passing records.

After a brief career in the Arena League, Cohen moved into coaching and began his college career. He was eventually promoted to offensive coordinator at the University of Maine and then jumped into the NFL as an assistant wide receivers coach. Los Angeles Rams. Cohen ultimately returned to college and joined the Kentucky program in 2021 as the team's offensive coordinator. He then returned to the Rams as the team's OC for the 2022 season and returned to the Wildcats as the OC/QB coach in 2023. .

The addition of Cohen last season broke that cycle. tampa bay buccaneers as their offensive coordinator.

It may be too early for Cohen to be considered as an NFL head coach, but if QB development is a priority, Cohen will be considered.

4. Joe Brady, OC, Buffalo Bills

as a member of LSU Joe Brady seemed destined to be a head coach someday when he was on the coaching staff chasing a national title in 2019. Brady is the team's passing game coordinator, and working with NFL-level players like Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson has certainly made his life easier.

But fate often takes a detour, and his tenure as offensive coordinator carolina panthers It was overwhelming. Brady served as quarterbacks coach buffalo bills He was retained for the 2022 season, but was promoted to offensive coordinator when Buffalo fired Ken Dorsey in the middle of 2023.

Now, it looks like Brady is once again waiting for an NFL head coach. That said, hiring coach Josh Allen may have something to do with that, and it remains to be seen how effective Brady will be in developing young quarterbacks like he is in Chicago.

3. Aaron Glenn, DC, Detroit Lions

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Despite the idea that Williams' development is a priority for Chicago, meaning an offensive-minded head coach is the role for the Bears, Aaron Glenn is a huge option for the organization.

After his playing days in the NFL ended, Glenn started in the personnel side, first serving as general manager of the Arena League's Houston Stallions before joining the NFL. new york jets As a scout. After holding the position for two seasons, Glenn moved to the sideline and started as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Cleveland Browns, followed by a four-year stint as the defensive backs coach with the Cleveland Browns. new orleans saints.

He joined the Lions in 2021 as defensive coordinator under coach Dan Campbell and built one of the NFL's best defenses. His players love him for that side of the game and he has experience planning games against other teams in the division.

If the Bears were to go with a defensive-minded head coach, Glenn might be the best option since he just moved on from head coach Eberflus.

2. Thomas Brown, Chicago Bears interim head coach

Thomas Brown started the season as the passing game coordinator for the Chicago Bears.

He was later promoted to offensive coordinator when Shane Waldron was fired, and became interim head coach when Matt Eberflus was fired.

So it seems Chicago's front office has faith in Brown, at least for now. The remainder of the 2024 season could be an extension interview for Brown, and if the team can show that it can be competitive under Brown's guidance and that Williams can develop in the way the Bears need him to. There's a good chance the job will be his.

1. Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions

Ben Johnson has been a popular name in each of the past few recruiting cycles.

But each time, Johnson chose to return to Detroit with the Lions.

He was one of the top candidates for the open Carolina Panthers head coaching job during the 2023 cycle, but withdrew his name from consideration and returned to his OC role with the Lions. And last winter, he was probably the top candidate for the commanding general's job in Washington; withdrew from the fight Key decision makers in Washington were on a plane to Detroit to meet with him.

Maybe he just loves being a head coach?

That's certainly his prerogative, but that doesn't prevent us from seeing him as the Bears' best option in Chicago. After all, look at what he did against Jared Goff. Under his tutelage, Goff has gone from being Detroit's potential bridge quarterback to the face of the franchise, and Johnson's role in that can't be overstated. Many of the route concepts Johnson is looking for in Goff date back to his days as a quarterback at the University of California, and the coach has shown a willingness to adjust the offense to what the quarterback is comfortable with.

That's ideal for QB development, and it could be ideal for Williams as well.

That's a top priority in Chicago.