Windy City Gridiron
That time has arrived again, and our own ECD returns with a list of quality candidates to consider. Check out part 1 here, and part 2 will be available tomorrow morning.
On Friday, November 29th, 2024, at 11:20 central, the Matt Eberflus era for the Chicago Bears came to a screeching halt in a manner reminiscent of his final three games as their head ball coach. Matt was previously the 17th head coach in the 100+ year history of the Bears.
We’re finally able to officially move on as a fanbase. Naturally, this is cause for my latest “extravaganza” piece to be published in a growing series dating back to 2010. Now we begin the process of finding the 19th different head coach in franchise history.
Or... we may remain at 18. Thomas Brown has assumed the title of interim head coach and effectively is the 18th such person to fill the role in Chicago. I’ll talk more at length about him later on. Then, of course, there’s one candidate on this list who everybody wants. That coach will be saved for the final entry on this initial list.
But first, let’s examine some of the other candidates who have a realistic chance of being hired as head football coach at Halas Hall.
EDITOR: In part 1, ECD will feature the first-time candidates who are currently working as coordinators in the NFL. That is, all except for the most talked about O.C. from Motown, who ECD will get to in part two later today.
To elaborate, this portion will include candidates from around the league who would be in line for their first head coaching job in the NFL. A route the Bears have taken in all but one hire during the modern era of football. First up are names who have an offensive background. With the presumptive people’s choice getting a section all to themselves tomorrow.
I’m kicking this list off with someone I’ve been a big fan of for years. The 35-year-old OC for the Buffalo Bills made his entrance into the NFL as an assistant for Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints when he was just 28 years old. In 2021, he interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Texans for their head coaching roles. Those interviews came at the heal of his first season as an OC for the Carolina Panthers.
Had he been hired, he would have come close to matching Sean McVay as the youngest head coach in league history. The reason for the quick interest in the then-31 year old first-time offensive coordinator for the Panthers? Despite having Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback and a fairly unproven supporting cast headlined by then rookie receiver DJ Moore — that name sure sounds familiar — he did a solid job in getting production during year one of a complete rebuild. Plus he’s been a hot...
