Matt Eberflus Might Be Looking Into A Huge Wild Card For OC Job

The Chicago Bears have cast a wide net in their search for the next offensive coordinator to replace Luke Getsy. For the first week or so, all their candidates seemed to follow the same pattern. They have previous playcalling experience and came from the renowned Shanahan/McVay coaching tree. However, over the past week, things have shifted into the unusual. It started with them interviewing former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, famous for bringing Lamar Jackson his first MVP. Then it got weirder when they spoke to USC quarterbacks coach Kliff Kingsbury, best known for developing Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech and Kyler Murray in Arizona. If Matt Eberflus is looking into those types, could he be considering somebody even more unorthodox?

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports unveiled a surprising update on the coaching carousel this weekend. It appears several teams are looking into the possibility of bringing in UCLA head coach Chip Kelly as an offensive coordinator.

Multiple sources tell CBS Sports that UCLA head coach Chip Kelly has been mentioned as a possible offensive coordinator by multiple head-coaching candidates this cycle, and multiple teams have started due diligence on the former Eagles and 49ers head coach for their potential offensive coordinator vacancy...

...In addition to the eight head-coaching changes that should bring new offensive coordinators, there are vacancies for the permanent offensive coordinator roles in Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Chicago. That's not to mention the positions that become open when some of the top offensive coordinators currently with teams are plucked as head coaches elsewhere, or when more staff changes take place across the league following the divisional round of the playoffs, as many sources anticipate.

The timing of this is hard to ignore.

Remember, the Bears traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Kingsbury a few days ago. The UCLA campus is right in the same area. It wouldn't have been difficult to get in a meeting with Kelly as well. Many view the longtime coach as one of the great offensive innovators of the past 20 years, embracing the rise of dual-threat quarterbacks and weaponizing tempo. Most remember him for his time as head coach at Oregon and then as head coach in Philadelphia.

Matt Eberflus would be taking a massive swing with Kelly.

He is by far one of the most experienced playcallers in football, college or the NFL. He got Oregon to a national title game in 2010, falling just short against Cam Newton and Auburn. That got him the job in Philadelphia, where he posted back-to-back 10-6 seasons with a top-5 offense in both years. Nick Foles threw for 27 touchdowns and two interceptions in 2013. The Eagles ranked among the best in rushing as well. Unfortunately, his constant tinkering with the roster ended up being his undoing. After a forgettable one-year stint in San Francisco with a gutted depth chart, he returned to college.

Since taking over at UCLA, his offense has ranked in the top 20 in three of the past four years. He's rebuilt the school into a credible program. However, at 60 years old, he may wish for one more shot at the NFL. Since nobody will hire him as a head coach, it would be as an offensive coordinator. The Bears have the #1 pick and will likely draft a quarterback. Kelly is familiar with Caleb Williams, having coached against him twice. His dual-threat ability might look pretty dangerous in Kelly's system.

Matt Eberflus said he was open to all forms of offensive scheme if he felt it was right for the Bears. This would be a bold move.