Chicago Bears' List Of Coaching Options May Soon Get More Interesting

One thing about the NFL is it forever remains unpredictable. You never know who might get fired at the end of each season. Coaches that seemed bulletproof to the outside world are kicked to the curb by their teams. Nobody saw Brian Flores getting fired last year after a second straight winning season. Sean Payton retiring was also a huge shock. Expect the unexpected when the coaching carousel is involved. It's no secret the Chicago Bears face a big decision with head coach Matt Eberflus.

His second year has been ugly in several ways. The team got off to a rough 0-4 start, marked by defensive ineptitude and a series of crazy off-the-field controversies. A more favorable schedule has allowed them to get to a 3-7 record, but that is about to change. Their next four games are against teams with winning records. Three are on the road. If Eberflus goes through that stretch 0-4, as many predict, the Bears may begin the process of thinking about a change. The question then shifts to who replaces him.

Conventional wisdom says they should try to find somebody with proven experience. Denver is having immediate success with Sean Payton. The problem is it doesn't look like anybody of that caliber will be available. Or at least it didn't until the past couple of weeks. Now, there are increased rumblings about two notable names landing on the hot seat.

The Chicago Bears would be crazy not to consider both men.

Sean McDermott and Mike Vrabel have been two of the most consistently successful head coaches in the league until recently. McDermott took over the listless Buffalo Bills franchise in 2017. Since then, he has made the playoffs five times, won three division titles, and reached the AFC championship. However, his team went from a 4-2 start to 5-5, losing three of their last four, including ones to Denver and New England. McDermott reacted by firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey despite the offense not being bad. Couple that with the surprise departure of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier; it seems as if McDermott is under lots of pressure.

Vrabel was excellent from the moment he got to Tennessee. He posted a winning record in each of his first five seasons, reached the AFC championship in his second, and won two division titles. All of this happened despite constant questions at quarterback and serious roster mismanagement. Still, the team went 7-10 last year and is currently 3-6. Some believe a rebuild is coming, and Vrabel might be ushered out.

Both men have proven they can get struggling organizations turned around. McDermott helped develop Josh Allen in Buffalo, so we know he can handle a young quarterback. Vrabel is one of the best in-game coaches in the league. Either would be a significant upgrade over Eberflus. Both are still under the age of 50. If either becomes available, the Chicago Bears would be foolish not to pounce.