The Chicago Bears are at a critical crossroads in their coaching journey, sitting at a challenging 4-7 record heading into their Week 13 Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Detroit Lions.
What began as a promising start with a 4-2 record at their bye week in Week 7 has devolved into five consecutive losses, putting head coach Matt Eberflus squarely on the hot seat.
His three-season tenure, marked by a 14-31 record, may be nearing its conclusion.
ESPN Chicago recently highlighted the emerging odds for the Bears’ head coaching position, revealing an intriguing landscape of potential replacements.
Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator Joe Brady leads the pack with +325 odds, closely followed by Detroit Lions’ Ben Johnson at +400 and surprisingly, the Bears’ current offensive coordinator Thomas Brown at +600, per Bovada.
The Vegas Odds are out for the @chicagobears HC@chrisbleck pic.twitter.com/jQsbA1IA2Y
— ESPN Chicago (@ESPN1000) November 27, 2024
Despite none of these candidates having previous head coaching experience, the NFL has repeatedly demonstrated that talented coordinators can transform into exceptional head coaches.
However, the Bears’ recent history suggests caution. Previous attempts to appoint inexperienced head coaches have not yielded positive results for the franchise.
Names like Mike Vrabel from the Cleveland Browns and Brian Flores from the Minnesota Vikings could emerge as more viable alternatives.
Ben Johnson, at 38, has been instrumental in developing the Detroit Lions’ top-scoring offense, positioning them as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Similarly, Joe Brady, the 35-year-old Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, has been crucial in Josh Allen’s MVP-caliber performance, leading the NFL’s third-highest scoring offense.
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