The Chicago Bears are looking for the franchise’s 18th permanent head coach after Matt Eberflus was fired after Thanksgiving.

Eberflus endured a difficult two and a half years in the Windy City, but his reign came to an end following the devastating loss versus the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. The Lions held off a spirited Bears comeback to win 23-20; on the final drive of the game, Caleb Williams moved into field goal range before he was sacked, and the Bears did not call their final timeout as time expired.

Eberflus was immediately blamed for the horrific end to the game, and after criticism piled on from around the NFL world, the Bears decided to fire him on Friday. Eberflus became the third head coach to be fired in the 2024 season after Robert Saleh (New York Jets) and Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints).

While more openings are sure to come, the talent on the Bears roster – and the presence of highly-rated No. 1 overall pick Williams at quarterback – makes the Chicago opening fairly enticing. Thomas Brown, who was serving as offensive coordinator following the firing of Shane Waldron earlier this month, has been named interim head coach in the meantime and he could make the role his own with a strong close to the season.

But who are the main candidates for the Bears head coaching role going forward?

Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions OC

Having sensationally spurned the opportunity to become a head coach last offseason to remain the offensive coordinator for Dan Campbell’s Lions, Ben Johnson is sure to once again be the top candidate available. His offense is once again one of the premier units in football; the 11-1 Lions rank first in points per game and second in yards per game through 13 weeks in the 2024 NFL season.

Johnson’s ingenious designs to open favorable looks, as well as responses to pressure, are extremely impressive. As was revealed last year, Johnson will be highly coveted – and highly selective, as he was 12 months ago. Any franchise with talented, young offensive pieces is likely to intrigue the 38-year-old – the Bears fit the bill and would love to weaken their division rivals.

Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders OC

Kliff Kingsbury worked with Williams at USC for the 2023 season, and the pair developed a strong relationship. He took the reigns of the Washington Commanders offense, and under Kingsbury’s guidance, the NFC East franchise has put out one of the most explosively effective units in the league this year, with former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels pulling the strings.

Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news

Kliff Kingsbury worked with Caleb Williams at USC last season

Kliff Kingsbury worked with Caleb Williams at USC last season ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Perhaps Kingsbury would help Williams discover his best form in the NFL, but his previous experience in the top job has not made for good reading. Kingsbury went just 28-37 with zero playoff wins – and one appearance – in four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, so there are legitimate questions about his ability to lead an overall team instead of an offensive unit. He could try to fight the narrative with the Bears.

Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers DC

The Bears may not want a defensively-minded head coach following Eberflus, but Jesse Minter has impressed in his first year as the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator. The Chargers surrender the lowest points per game in the NFL (15.9), and Minter has helped the likes of Poona Ford and Kristian Fulton to break out. It’s unclear how high on the Bears’ list he will be, but Minter’s name will certainly be discussed in Chicago.

Bill Belichick, former New England Patriots HC

Bill Belichick is widely considered the greatest coach in NFL history, following six Super Bowl titles across a two-decade stint in New England with Tom Brady. However, his legacy was somewhat stained following Brady’s departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; the Pats went 29-31 with no playoff wins from 2020-23, with their offense faltering.

But Belichick’s defense remained dominant, and the Bears are a franchise that has historically prided themselves on the strength of their defense. It’s unclear if the 72-year-old will want to contribute to the GM role and lean into Ryan Poles’ role, but Belichick seems determined to return to coaching in 2025 – and the Bears represent a good fit.

Mike Vrabel, former Tennessee Titans HC

Mike Vrabel is currently working as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns. During his tenure with the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel built a great culture en route to a 54-45 overall record that included an AFC championship appearance and a run as the No. 1 seed. A Super Bowl champion as a player, Vrabel is a hard-nosed, throwback coach who his players love to play for. He is a culture builder with a nous for winning, which could lead him to Chicago – even if he isn’t the most offensive-minded coach available.

Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC

After replacing Dave Canales’ big shoes as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Liam Coen has lived up to the job. Tampa Bay ranks in the top 10 across almost every offensive metric, while Baker Mayfield is playing the best football of his career even without star receiver duo Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for much of the season.

Coen worked with Sean McVay for four seasons, and he has plenty of experience in college football. He is a rising offensive mind in football and will be a head coach candidate this offseason. While someone with more experience could be preferred, perhaps Coen is the offensive mentor destined to work with Williams.