Chicago Bears Head Coaching Job Now Said To Be A Two-Horse Race

Everybody keeps taking a stab at what will happen with the Chicago Bears head coaching job. There doesn't seem to be any singular answer. Dan Graziano of ESPN believes it will be Pete Carroll. His colleague Courtney Cronin thinks it'll be Joe Brady. Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron mentioned Brian Flores. There is zero consensus on who the organization has circled, which tells you nobody around the league truly knows what is going on at Halas Hall. That is most likely how GM Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren want it.

Still, it hasn't stopped prominent insiders from revealing what they've heard. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports took his turn during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. From what he understands, the Bears job has become a two-horse race between former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. It is possible Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores could enter the mix if he has a strong interview, but this is where things sit.

The Chicago Bears' direction seems relatively clear.

While they continue meeting with prominent coaches from a defensive background, it feels like they're drifting toward hiring an offensive head coach. This isn't surprising, given they have Caleb Williams' future to consider. Marrying him with an offensive coach makes complete sense. Johnson has coordinated the NFL's best offense this season and one of the best over the past three years. McCarthy has coached for 18 seasons, won 174 games, and was a central influence on the development of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Dak Prescott also had the two highest single-season TD totals of his career (37 and 36) under his watch.

At this point, many seem convinced that Johnson is destined for Las Vegas, wooed by new part-owner Tom Brady and a reportedly massive (unofficial) contract offer. The Chicago Bears have had eyes on him dating back to mid-2023 and had a productive first interview. It is apparent Johnson is a big fan of Williams. However, if he does opt to leave the division for elsewhere, McCarthy seems to be their contingency plan. That isn't the outcome many fans want, but it is still a sound strategy.