Could the Bears turn to the college ranks for their next head coach?

The rumor winds are swirling in the Windy City.

Just days after the Bears decided to move on from Matt Eberflus, Chicago is already in the market for their next head coach. Early returns indicate that the next coach will also bring a shift in philosophy, focusing more on the offensive side of the ball.

While the Bears have opted for offensive minds to run the team in their history, most recently with Matt Nagy, Eberflus fit the mold of what has typically been a defense-first organization.

While they’re a long way from the days of being the ‘Monsters of the Midway,’ the Bears appear to be in a good position to contend and contend soon.

Their next coach’s success will hinge on whether Caleb Williams reaches his potential. Here’s a look at some of the names connected to the job thus far.

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Bears head coach rumors

While plenty of names will eventually fill out the list, the Bears look ready to prioritize an offensive-minded coach. That doesn’t mean they won’t look at, or possibly hire, someone like Mike Vrabel, but Chicago’s early targets do have a common theme. Here’s a look at some:

Kliff Kingsbury

Kingsbury, who was mentioned as a potential candidate by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Sunday, might be the leader in the clubhouse to land this job when the dust settles. The current Washington Commanders offensive coordinator brings some important things to the table. He’s an offensive mind, has a track record of success in the NFL, and has a history with Williams. After stepping away from the NFL following his firing from the Cardinals, Kingsbury was a senior offensive analyst in 2023 with the USC Trojans, working with Williams during his final season in college.

As an encore, Kingsbury headed back east to Landover, Maryland, where he has coached 2024’s No. 2 overall pick, Jayden Daniels, to a likely Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.

Kingsbury interviewed for the Bears offensive coordinator job last offseason, but Eberflus hired Shane Waldron instead.

The coach will likely have a second chance to be a head coach. All signs are pointing towards that coming in Chicago.

Marcus Freeman

A surprising entrant to the list of possible coaches, Freeman is one of the more prominent names in college football. On Sunday, Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager linked the Notre Dame coach to the Bears, suggesting he could profile as the leader Chicago could look for.

‘Another name that you haven’t heard anywhere else that I would keep your eye on – Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman,’ Schrager said. ‘Kevin Warren, former Big Ten commissioner, also is now running the Bears as the president. Familiar with the college game. They’re looking for a ‘leader of men’ type coach. Marcus Freeman a name to watch early on in that process.’

The Irish coach doesn’t have the NFL background the team would likely want in this situation, meaning Freeman would carry significant risk. This situation would be similar to the one current Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule found himself in when he took the Panthers job. While Rhule had journeyman signal caller Teddy Bridgewater as his quarterback, Freeman would be under tremendous pressure to deliver immediate success with Williams.

Regarding previous connections to the Bears, Freeman was drafted by the organization in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft but released before the regular season kicked off.

Thomas Brown

Brown has bounced around the football world, recently serving as the Panthers offensive coordinator in 2023. He is said to have a good working relationship with Williams. If Chicago strings some wins together to finish this season, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine the Bears keeping him around. However, most teams don’t look to keep interim coaches; instead, they opt to start with a clean slate, so it’s an uphill battle for Brown.

Joe Brady

Another former Panthers OC, the current Bills OC, is another name connected to the job. Also mentioned by Pelissero, Brady has found success in Buffalo after a poor first NFL stint in Carolina. The former LSU playcaller has had the Bills’ offense humming ever since he took over for Ken Dorsey in 2023. He keeps with the theme of offensive-minded coaches, but he doesn’t profile as someone at the top of the list.

Ben Johnson

By far the most popular name on the coaching radar this season, Johnson has been extremely patient in seeking the right NFL head coach opening. While it’s unclear if the Lions’ OC would elect to remain in the NFC North and join the Bears, Chicago is in a good spot moving forward. They have a promising young quarterback, quality weapons on offense and a fairly stable foundation to build.