The Chicago Bears appear to have hit rock bottom. Then again, with the Green Bay Packers up next after a dispiriting loss to the New England Patriots, that likely isn't true just yet. One thing is undeniable, though. Matt Eberflus is a dead man walking. Something broke in this team after that Hail Mary loss in Washington. It was merely the latest in a long line of painful collapses engineered by the third-year head coach. People want him gone now. While that is unlikely to happen, the reality is he will almost certainly be fired in January.
Nobody in their right mind believes he will rally from three straight losses to navigate six NFC North games, the 49ers, and the Seahawks to reach a winning record. No way. In fact, there is a much greater probability the Bears won't win again this season. Going from 4-2 to 4-13 would be easy grounds for firing an entire regime, not just the head coach. Regardless, it's time to discuss who might be the best option to replace Eberflus. Here are the five who stand out the most and why.
Any Chicago Bears search must start up north in Michigan.
1. Ben Johnson (OC, Detroit Lions)
Most agree he is the hottest candidate in the field, and it's not hard to understand why. Johnson transformed the Detroit Lions offense into a powerhouse. They have ranked top five in either scoring or total yards the past two seasons and are on track to do so again. His ability to balance things with a precise passing attack and dominant ground game should be alluring to any team. He is only 38 years old, so there would be a chance for the Bears to secure that job for many years to come if he ends up being what many believe he can be.
2. Todd Monken (OC, Baltimore Ravens)
It is rather shocking it took this long for Monken to get recognized. The 58-year-old has a long track record of offensive success dating back to the early 2010s. His Oklahoma State offenses ranked 2nd and 3rd in 2011 and 2012. He took a 0-12 Southern Miss team to 9-5 by his third year as a head coach. Then he helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. Last year, Lamar Jackson won his second MVP with the Baltimore Ravens. Now he's on course to win another. Monken has succeeded almost everywhere he has coached. If anybody is ready for his shot, it's him.
3. Kliff Kingsbury (OC, Washington Commanders)
If you want a proven offensive track record, it doesn't get much better than Kingsbury. He puts up points everywhere he goes. He's also developed a reputation for molding great quarterbacks. It started with Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, then Kyler Murray in Arizona. Now he's at it again in Washington with Jayden Daniels, the heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year. He also worked with Caleb Williams for a year at USC. The one concern is he's never done a lot of winning as a head coach. He has a combined 63-77 record between Texas Tech and Arizona. Commanding a locker room isn't a great strength based on available evidence.
4. Joe Brady (OC, Buffalo Bills)
He's had one of the strangest past few years. Brady coached Joe Burrow to his historic 2019 Heisman season, which included a national championship. He got a career-high 3700 passing yards from Teddy Bridgewater his first year in Carolina and then was fired before his second ended. He stepped in as quarterbacks coach for Buffalo in 2022, got promoted mid-season in 2023 to offensive coordinator, and now has Josh Allen in the MVP chase with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. Brady is only 35 years old, so he's not as seasoned as others on the list. Still, he has a growing track record of elevating his quarterbacks.
5. Mike Vrabel (Former Titans HC)
The former Tennessee Titans head coach may have gotten a raw deal. After four straight winning seasons, he had two tough years where he won seven and six games, respectively. Tennessee dumped him, spent wildly in free agency, and is currently 2-6. Perhaps Vrabel was never the problem. He got a lot out of a team that was never flush with talent, particularly at quarterback. He's renowned for great leadership and having a hard-nosed, detailed approach. He could be a strong hire if fans are willing to look past his defensive background. Don't forget that he hired some excellent offensive coordinators like Matt Lafleur and Arthur Smith early in his tenure. He understands how to build a good staff, something previous Chicago Bears head coaches clearly don't.
