To put it merely, it’s been a tough season for the Chicago Bears. There had been excessive hopes for 2024 No. 1 general choose Caleb Williams’ first season. A preseason darling for media and bettors alike, Chicago’s win complete of 8.5 was the most-bet over by bettors at many sportsbooks, together with BetMGM. And via six weeks, issues appeared good. Chicago headed into its Week 7 bye at 4-2, coming off of two blowout wins (26-10 over Panthers, 35-16 over Jaguars). And then all of it fell aside.
Who can overlook the fateful Hail Mary heard across the Windy City in Week 8? And whereas there’s definitely no telling how the season might’ve gone if the Bears had merely batted down that cross and moved to 5-2, we’ve seen the way it’s performed out since.
After dropping six straight video games, Chicago lastly fired head coach Matt Eberflus after one other late-game meltdown resulted within the Bears operating out of time and never making an attempt a discipline purpose to tie the sport towards the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, regardless of having a timeout remaining. And that was after firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron a couple of weeks earlier.
Thomas Brown has stepped up because the interim head coach, however Chicago’s once-promising season has now turned ugly, with the Bears as soon as once more enjoying meaningless soccer video games in early December.
Which leads us to the query on each Chicago fan’s thoughts: Who would you wager might be teaching this group in 2025?
First, we wanted some odds, so The Athletic requested Borgata sportsbook director Thomas Gable for some hypothetical Bears subsequent coach odds (for the reason that wager isn’t accessible at any main U.S. sportsbook).
Gable put in Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as the favourite to land the job.
“He clearly has a historical past with Caleb at USC,” Gable instructed The Athletic. “I’d heard he was speaking to the Bears within the offseason, however I’m not fairly positive what occurred in these conversations. With the success he’s had with Jayden Daniels in his rookie season, I might see Chicago being .”
Now, the entertaining half. We requested our very personal Jon Greenberg how assured he was in every candidate Gable named turning into Eberflus’ successor. If he had a $100 to wager among the many candidates, how would he do it? He might go all-in on one candidate or unfold it round on a couple of names.
Here is how Greenberg distributed his $100, alongside along with his reasoning:
Kliff Kingsbury +250
Kingsbury has been a dropping head coach in each faculty and the NFL, so he would match completely with the present tradition at Halas Hall. This is a company continuously reminding us how to not be taught from failure, so perhaps Kingsbury is the subsequent man to attempt to show that to be true. He’s the favourite as a result of he has Caleb Williams connections and a vivid offensive thoughts. He wouldn’t be my first selection, however I additionally wouldn’t wager towards the Bears doing it and it backfiring on them. Bet: $25
Mike Vrabel +400
What does “chief of males” imply? Our Dianna Russini has been making an attempt to type that out. I assume Vrabel suits the archetype, proper? Physically, he seems like somebody that soccer gamers wouldn’t wish to cross and he carries a bravado you can’t bluff. Plus, he’s performed at a excessive stage. I believe he’s too alpha for Halas Hall, which feels like a dumb factor to say except you’ve coated (or carefully adopted) this group like I’ve. Bet: Pass
Ben Johnson +450
Ipswich Town is close to the underside of the desk within the Premier League, so perhaps the group and Johnson would take into account one other switch regardless of him simply getting there? Oh, we’re speaking in regards to the soccer coach in Detroit. He’s been a scorching title, so I’m slightly shocked he’s not first on this record, however perhaps it’s as a result of he turned down jobs final season to stick with the Lions. He’s been rumored to have an interest within the Bears, however with the “chief of males” stuff floating round (Bears receiver DJ Moore attributed it to GM Ryan Poles, which appears vital), I’m questioning if Johnson has the persona to suit the job description. Still, he’s the standard knowledge choose. Bet: $25
Joe Brady +500
Meh. Brady rode Joe Burrow’s coattails to a plum NFL gig in Carolina and washed out of a dysfunctional state of affairs rapidly. Now he’s the offensive coordinator for Josh Allen in Buffalo and we’re imagined to imagine he’s head teaching materials? I’m positive he’s a nice coach, however I’m shocked the chances are this low. Bet: Pass
Thomas Brown +800
Given all that’s at stake for Poles, Williams and the Bears group, this isn’t the time to take an opportunity on Brown, who has been promoted from passing-game coordinator to offensive coordinator to move coach due to dysfunction and failure. However, the ex-player is a fascinating speaker and coach, and he has that swagger to him. People gravitate towards him and I might definitely see the Bears selling him as their Mike Tomlin, particularly if he wins a few video games down the stretch. An NFL government joked with me that if Brown coaches the Bears to their first Sunday street win since 2021 (critically, that’s a stat), he’ll get a seven-year deal. Bet: $15
Aaron Glenn +1200
Glenn will get overshadowed by Johnson, his fellow Lions coordinator, however he appears undervalued right here. Glenn was a Pro Bowl cornerback in New York, so he has the massive market expertise, and he’s been grinding as a coach since 2014. Glenn had a bunch of interviews final 12 months, and given the Lions’ success, he ought to get extra this 12 months. Will the Bears be one of many groups that reveals curiosity? Bet: $10
Brian Flores +2000
Reading up on him, I believe Flores, the defensive coordinator in Minnesota, is the best man for this group right now. Flores’ success in Minnesota is obvious however the huge mark towards him is he didn’t have a very good relationship with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa whereas he was the top coach in Miami. Tagovailoa opened up about his points with Flores and the coach responded by admitting he made errors in his first head teaching gig. Given that Williams is the franchise cornerstone, you’d suppose that may eradicate him, however it could depend upon the interview. I’d undoubtedly ask him what he gleaned from Mike Tomlin in his stopover in Pittsburgh.
Another potential difficulty: he’s nonetheless suing the league and a number of groups for racial bias in hiring practices and I might see that turning off George McCaskey. Bet: $25
Should the Chicago Bears make a run at Bill Belichick? 🤔
🎧 Listen: https://t.co/dN9IHFjEyM pic.twitter.com/WCB66NAyZw
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 4, 2024
Bill Belichick +7500
I want we lived in a world the place Belichick coached the Bears, however I don’t see that taking place for quite a lot of causes. This simply isn’t that kind of group. I’m undecided there are too many groups keen to cede complete soccer operations management to a 72-year-old Belichick, even when he’s the perfect coach in league historical past. Bet: Pass
(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Luke Hales, Mike Mulholland, Scott Taetsch, Michael Reaves / Getty Images; Joseph Weiser / Icon Sportswire)
