Chicago Bears Insider Reveals 4 Names Top Their List For Head Coach

Matt Eberflus is gone. Thomas Brown is the interim head coach. His odds of outright claiming the Chicago Bears job took a major hit on Sunday with a 38-13 ass-kicking at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers. It is painfully obvious this organization needs a fresh voice in that locker room. It falls to team president Kevin Warren and (maybe?) GM Ryan Poles to find that man. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported that the search is already underway. The team is reaching out to various contacts to start the vetting process.

What hasn't been clear is which names may or may not top their list. Former longtime Chicago sports radio host Dan McNeil broke that silence with a fascinating update. Based on what he's heard, there are four names they intend to research and meet in the coming weeks.

A source informed SM that this report is accurate. Those are indeed names the Bears have circled. It isn't hard to see why. Johnson is guiding Detroit toward its third consecutive year with a top-five offense. Brady has Josh Allen on the cusp of winning his first MVP in Buffalo. Flores and Vrable are known for their no-nonsense, disciplined coaching styles, which have found success with organizations that struggled in years past.

The Chicago Bears seem to have an idea of what they want.

It falls into one of two categories. They either want the young, proven offensive mind who can elevate Caleb Williams to the star he's capable of being, or they want a tough, demanding coach who can instill a relentless, competitive mindset in his locker room. It also helps that Flores and Vrabel have previous head coaching experience. Flores had two winning seasons in three years with Miami, going 24-18 after a 0-6 start to his tenure. Vrabel had four winning seasons in six years, made the playoffs three times, and reached an AFC championship.

Smart money says the list of names will expand soon. There are other prominent candidates the Chicago Bears should at least talk to. Kliff Kingsbury, who has direct ties to Williams, figures to be one. Ascending Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen is another. They may also poke around the college ranks with Warren's extensive contacts there. However, if this core four remains the same, it is hard to argue with the team's choices. All are justifiable.