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

The Chicago Bears need a new head coach.

In the wake of Thursday’s excruciating 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions — one that saw Caleb Williams and the Bears offense drive within field goal range in the closing seconds but fail to even attempt the kick after Williams took a sack, a pass fell incomplete, and time ran out with Chicago still holding a timeout — Matt Eberflus was fired as the team’s head coach.

During his time in Chicago, Eberflus posted a 14-32 record. The Bears never advanced to the playoffs during his tenure.

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

9. Kliff Kingsbury, OC, Washington Commanders

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This might be an outside-the-box hire, but there is merit to the idea of Chicago hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their next head coach. One can point to how Jayden Daniels began the season in Washington, looking every bit like a potential NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and imagine that Kingsbury could aid the development of Caleb Williams, which will be job one for whoever takes over as the head coach in Chicago.

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

However, what might give Chicago pause is the combination of Kingsbury’s tenure in Arizona — he was let go after posting a 28-37-1 record with a single playoff appearance — as well as the trendline shown by his offenses in the NFL. They start red-hot, but finish anything but.

In short, while he might be an option, there are more intriguing ones for the Bears.

8. Bill Belichick, former HC, New England Patriots

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

Bringing in a coach with a resume like Bill Belichick’s would be a lightning strike of a move for the Bears.

However, questions remain regarding just how much Belichick wants to remain focused on coaching, and not handle general manager duties as well. While reports indicated that Belichick, when interviewing for the Atlanta Falcons job last winter, made it clear he would be willing to give up GM duties at his next stop, it remains to be seen how comfortable he would be doing so, and how a potential Belichick-Ryan Poles relationship would work.

7. Drew Petzing, OC, Arizona Cardinals

Every year a new coordinator rockets into the head coach hiring cycle. Last year it was Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator Bobby Slownik.

This year it is Drew Petzing, who holds that role with the Arizona Cardinals.

Petzing is in his 11th year in the league, having started as a football operations intern with the Cleveland Browns during the 2013 season, working his way through the offensive ranks in Cleveland and Minnesota before moving to the Cardinals in 2023 as an offensive coordinator.

This year he has crafted one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses, ranking well above league average in both Expected Points Added per Pass, and EPA/Run.

This might be a year or two ahead of schedule for Petzing to be considered for head coaching roles, but if developing Williams is the main goal in Chicago, he would be worth a look for the Bears.

6. Mike Vrabel, former HC, Tennessee Titans

Since departing as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, Mike Vrabel has been linked with several open jobs in the NFL ranks. Currently serving as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns, there are rumors that Vrable could be the next head coach in Cleveland should the organization part ways with Kevin Stefanski.

If not in Cleveland, Vrabel will likely be coaching again next year, as he has already been linked with the expected vacancy in New York with the Jets, and according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, it is Vrable who is “getting the most hype around the league” when it comes to potential head coaches for 2025.

His background on the defensive side of the ball — and the need to make developing Williams a priority in Chicago — might not make him the ideal fit in Chicago.

5. Liam Coen, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Liam Coen has spent a lifetime around the quarterback position.

That might make him an ideal candidate to take over in Chicago.

Coen was a four-year starter at Massachusetts in college, where his favorite target was Victor Cruz, and still holds a number of the school’s passing records.

After a brief Arena League career Coen moved to coaching, starting out in the college ranks. He eventually moved up to become the offensive coordinator at Maine, before he leapt to the NFL as an assistant wide receivers coach with the Los Angeles Rams. Coen eventually returned to the college ranks, joining the program in Kentucky as the team’s offensive coordinator for 2021. He then returned to the Rams for the 2022 season as the team’s OC, before going back to the Wildcats for 2023 as their OC/QB coach.

That cycle broke this past season, as Coen joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator.

It might be early for Coen to be getting NFL head coach consideration, but if developing a QB is the priority, Coen will get a look.

4. Joe Brady, OC, Buffalo Bills

As a member of the LSU coaching staff during their run to a national title in 2019, it seemed Joe Brady was destined to become a head coach someday. Brady was the team’s passing game coordinator, and working with NFL-caliber players in Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson certainly made life easy on him.

But destiny often takes detours, and his tenure as the offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers was underwhelming. Brady took a role as the quarterbacks coach with the Buffalo Bills for the 2022 season but was promoted midway through 2023 to offensive coordinator when Buffalo fired Ken Dorsey.

Now, Brady again looks like an NFL head coach in waiting. Although getting to coach Josh Allen might have something to do with that, and it remains to be seen how effective Brady could be at developing a young quarterback as he would be doing in Chicago.

3. Aaron Glenn, DC, Detroit Lions

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Even with the idea that developing Williams is the priority in Chicago — meaning an offensive-minded head coach is the play for the Bears — Aaron Glenn is a tremendous option for the organization.

After his NFL playing days came to an end Glenn started out on the personnel side, first as the General Manager of the Houston Stallions in the Arena League before joining the New York Jets as a scout. After two seasons in that role, Glenn moved to the sideline, starting out as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns before spending four years as the defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints.

He joined the Lions in 2021 as the defensive coordinator under Dan Campbell and has built one of the NFL’s best defenses. His players love him on that side of the football, and he has experience drawing up game plans against the rest of the division.

Should the Bears go with a defensive-minded head coach — after just moving on from one in Eberflus — Glenn might be their best option.

2. Thomas Brown, interim HC, Chicago Bears

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

He has since been promoted to offensive coordinator — with the firing of Shane Waldron — and now interim head coach with the termination of Matt Eberflus.

That makes it seem that the front office in Chicago has faith in Brown, at least for the moment. The rest of the 2024 season could be an extended interview for Brown, and if he shows that the team can be competitive — and that Williams develops the way the Bears need him to — under his guidance the job could very well be his.

1. Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions

Ben Johnson has been the hot name in each of the past few hiring cycles.

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

He was among the favorites for the open Carolina Panthers head coaching position during the 2023 cycle but withdrew his name from consideration and returned to his OC role with the Lions. Then last winter he was perhaps the favorite for the job in Washington with the Commanders, but pulled himself out of contention as Washington’s key decision-makers were on a flight to Detroit to meet with him.

Maybe he just likes being a head coach?

That is certainly his prerogative, but it does not prevent us from viewing him as the best option in Chicago for the Bears. After all, look at what he has done with Jared Goff. Under his guidance, Goff has gone from a potential bridge quarterback in Detroit to become the face of the franchise, and Johnson’s role in that cannot be overstated. Many of the route concepts you see Johnson call for Goff date back to the quarterback’s days in college at California, and the coach has shown a willingness to tailor his offense to what makes his QB comfortable.

That is ideal for QB development and could be ideal for Williams.

Which is the priority in Chicago.