Bears fire Matt Eberflus: Ranking the top candidates to become Chicago’s next coach

Matt Eberflus became the latest NFL coach lose your job after the Bears relieved him of his duties Friday. This is the first time in franchise history that the Bears have fired a coach during a season.

Eberflus was tasked with rebuilding a Bears team that had suffered seven losing seasons over an eight-year span. The team initially made steady progress under Eberflus, going 7-10 in 2023 (after going 4-13 in Eberflus’ first season) and starting this season with a 4-2 record. . But Chicago’s six-game losing streak ultimately cost Eberflus his job, with his decision not to use his final timeout near the end of Thursday’s loss to Detroit serving as the proverbial nail in the coffin.

Chicago now joins the Jets and Saints as franchises that will begin the process of finding their next coach. Here is a first ranking of the best potential candidates to lead the Bears in 2025.

8. Kingsbury Cliff

Kingsbury is in his first season as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator after spending last fall as a senior offensive analyst at LSU. So far, the Commanders’ offense has thrived under Kingsbury, especially rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Washington’s current three-game losing streak, however, has put a damper on the team’s strong start. Kingsbury’s attacks tend to fade late in the season, a trend he will surely hope to end this winter.

The 45-year-old went 28-37-1 as coach of the Cardinals before being fired after four seasons. His lack of success there could hamper his coaching hopes for the time being.

7. Arthur Smith

The head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23, Smith is in the middle of his first season as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. Pittsburgh’s offense has improved significantly this season under Smith, who handled the challenge of transitioning from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson after six games.

Smith, who recently received a call from UNC regarding his coaching vacancy, appears to be in no rush to leave Pittsburgh. His 21-30 record in Atlanta may require him to have more success as a coordinator before being seriously considered for a coaching job.

6. Bill Belichick

The six-time Super Bowl champion is expected to be in the running for multiple jobs this offseason after not landing a coaching job during the last coaching cycle. A defensive coach at heart, Belichick is no novice when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. He enjoyed the most successful coach-quarterback partnership in NFL history during his time with Tom Brady.

Belichick led a successful rebuild with the Browns in the early 1990s before Cleveland moved to Baltimore. His failure in New England is the biggest stain on an otherwise legendary coaching career.

5. Liam Coen

Coen, 39, is currently in his first season as offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after serving in that role with the Rams. This season, the Buccaneers offense is fourth in the NFL in scoring, seventh in yards gained and second in third down and red zone efficiency. Baker Mayfield has thrived this season working with Coen, whose coaching experience also includes eight years as quarterbacks coach.

4. Aaron Glenn

Glenn enjoyed a successful coaching career after being a standout cornerback during his 15-year career. A member of Dan Campbell’s original coaching staff in Detroit, Glenn (the Lions’ defensive coordinator since 2021) currently presides over a defense that is fourth in the NFL in fewest points allowed, third in touchdown passes allowed, fifth in rushing yards allowed, second. on third down and third in red zone efficiency.

Brown, Chicago’s passing game coordinator, will now serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season. The 38-year-old served as the Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2023. Before that, he spent three years on the Rams’ coaching staff, where he won a ring after Los Angeles beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl LVI.

Brown has worked and will continue to work closely with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who on Thursday broke Kyler Murray’s rookie record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Brown will now have five games to make his case as the Bears’ next coach.

2. Joe Brady

Brady, 35, rose to prominence after serving as LSU’s passing game coordinator during the school’s undefeated, championship-winning 2019 season (Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy that year and threw seven touchdowns in LSU’s game against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl semifinal game).

Brady then served as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers for two years before becoming offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills this season. Under Brady, Buffalo’s offense is third in the league in scoring and also ranks top 10 in the league in third down and red zone efficiency. Brady has had a successful partnership so far with Josh Allen, who is enjoying an MVP-caliber season.

It’s hard to imagine a more qualified person to take over the Bears than Johnson, 38, who had a very successful career during his three years as the Lions’ offensive coordinator. During this period, Jared Goff realized his potential as a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback. Johnson also presides over the NFL’s top running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Johnson also has the benefit of sharing a division with the Bears, which should give him an edge when it comes to evaluating other teams in Chicago’s division. Johnson also surely has a good understanding of the Bears’ current strengths and weaknesses considering he plays them twice a year.