Who are the top contenders for the position? The Chicago Bears will get a head start in their hunt for a new head coach.
NFL experts offered their opinions on the Bears’ potential interview targets as they seek on the first football Sunday of the post-Matt Eberflus era in Chicago.
Adam Schefter stated on ESPN’s NFL Countdown that interim head coach Thomas Brown will have a chance to prove himself in the final five weeks of the season, but he also mentioned a highly regarded applicant.
Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Lions, will be the center of attention, and I believe he may be interested in the position. According to Schefter, we’ll see if they can persuade Trump to visit Chicago.
Johnson, who has been the Lions’ offensive coordinator since 2022, is enjoying a fantastic season. With 31.9 points per game, the team leads the NFL in points per game and is second in yards per game.
Although Johnson had multiple interviews with NFL head coaches last season, it appears likely that he will make the move this time around due to his work with quarterback Jared Goff, which has surely made him an appealing possibility.
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Speaking on NFL Network’s NFL Gameday, Ian Rapoport stated that the organization will evaluate a number of excellent applicants for the position.
Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, and Ben Johnson will all be contenders, but Kliff Kingsbury is a fascinating figure to keep an eye on. Naturally, he collaborated with Caleb Williams at USC, who is currently doing well as an OC with the Commanders,” he stated. “Definitely something to watch.
In addition, Rapoport stated that it is likely that general manager Ryan Poles will be in charge of the coaching search because to concerns around his future with the organization after Eberflus’ dismissal.
In 2023, Williams’ final season at USC, Kingsbury, who was previously the coach of the Arizona Cardinals, served as an offensive analyst for the school. In addition to tutoring quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray, Kingsbury’s work with Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels has made him a strong contender for head coach.
Currently, Johnson works alongside Glenn, who is the defensive coordinator for the Lions. With just 93.5 yards per game allowed against the run, the Lions rank 11th in the NFL in terms of yards allowed per game. In contrast, the Bears now rank 25th in the NFL in terms of run defense, making them one of the worst in the league.
Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is currently a consultant with the Cleveland Browns, but because of his reputation and resume—he guided the Titans to three consecutive postseason appearances, including two division titles—he will probably be interviewed by a number of clubs.
Since the NFL season will end in January and the Bears will not be able to interview league candidates, things are probably going to go slowly for the time being. Interviews will probably be possible throughout the postseason, but they won’t make a hiring announcement until after their candidate’s season is over.
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