The Chicago Bears have been so busy trying to save their season that it's easy to forget they still don't have a defensive coordinator. Head coach Matt Eberflus has assumed that role. He expects to continue play calling for the rest of the year. It seems unwise to make a sudden change again after what happened with Alan Williams. However, the Bears will have to fill that position at some point.
Based on his comments after the big win over Washington, it sounds like the head coach is open to the idea of bringing in an outside name.
“We’re having conversations on that,” Eberflus said during Friday’s press conference at Halas Hall. “If it works, if it’s right for us, that’s great. If it doesn’t, then it will be what it is. But we’re still looking at it. We have an open mind. There is nothing wrong with bringing somebody in who can help that has a different perspective.”
One thing about Eberflus is he's always open to making adjustments if he feels something isn't working. An outsider's perspective could help get things pointed in the right direction. Here are some names that might make sense for the job.
These names make the most sense for Matt Eberflus.
Lovie Smith
If the intention is to stick close to the Tampa-2 scheme roots, then Smith is the obvious choice. He and Eberflus share the same system backgrounds. Obviously, Smith had lots of success as a head coach in Chicago and embraces the philosophies this current regime wants. He's all about hustle, intensity, and turnovers. The transition would also be an easy one with no adjustment period required.
Mike Zimmer
Most people remember him for his long stint as Minnesota Vikings head coach. They often forget his glowing resume as a defensive coordinator going back several years. Zimmer has coached a top 15 defense 16 times dating back to 2000. He's known for his discipline, intelligence, and ability to frustrate opposing quarterbacks. While he might not be a direct scheme connection, he does run a 4-3 alignment.
Leslie Frazier
The former Bears defensive back is another Tampa-2 understudy. His success can't be dismissed, with nine defenses ranked in the top 10 dating back to 2008. He presumably stepped away from coaching in Buffalo this year to take a break. A return in 2024 is likely. Maybe that would accelerate if his original team came calling for help. The fact he was in the running for the head coaching job last year says the Bears are interested.
Todd Wash
Not only is he one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL, but many seem to forget Wash was a successful coordinator in Jacksonville. Across a three-year span, he produced a top-6 unit. Yannick Ngakoue saw his first NFL action under his watch. He runs a 4-3 system and is particularly good at generating pass rush. Matt Eberflus saw that last year when he was the line coach in Detroit.
