After three poor seasons, the Chicago Bears finally sent head coach Matt Eberflus packing.
Eberflus, who amassed a disappointing 14-32 record and a mere 30.2% win rate during his tenure, was relieved of his duties to the satisfaction of many in Chicago.
Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has since taken over as interim head coach, but his leadership has yet to yield results, with the Bears going winless under his guidance.
As the franchise looks to the future, it’s widely expected that Chicago will conduct an extensive search for a permanent head coach.
While many will likely be considered, there’s already buzz surrounding one elite candidate in particular: Mike Vrabel.
NFL insider Albert Breer of TheMMQB described Vrabel as “one of the top options” for the Bears’ head coaching vacancy.
Vrabel, who previously coached the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023, boasts a solid resume, including three playoff appearances and a near-Super Bowl appearance.
Vrabel has spent this season and a consultant for the Cleveland Browns but is widely expected to land a head coaching job within the next month or so.
For the Bears, Vrabel’s proven ability to build a winning culture could be the key to unlocking the potential of Caleb Williams, their franchise quarterback and former No. 1 overall draft pick.
Having said that, many feel that Chicago would be better off going with a more offensive-minded head coach to best develop Williams.
Ben Johnson, Kliff Kingsbury, and Joe Brady have all been floated as possibilities for the Bears. Those three would also be more “nurturing” for Williams (not that that’s a good thing).
With Vrabel, he wouldn’t be babying Williams and treating him with kid gloves. Perhaps that’s exactly the type of coach he needs to improve his toughness and speed up his development.
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky further fueled speculation about Vrabel’s next move during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
When McAfee broached the topic of Vrabel’s availability, Orlovsky cryptically responded, “I think Vrabel’s spoken for.”
Pressed for more details, Orlovsky avoided specifics, saying, “I just think that Vrabel’s probably got a very clear site and path with where he’s going to be likely coaching.”
Many speculate that the Bears are the team Orlovsky is referencing. (Although some think it’s his alma mater, Ohio State.)
After shockingly being fired by the Titans after the 2023 season, Vrabel went unhired in last year’s coaching cycle.
Along with the Bears, Vrabel’s name has been linked to teams like the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets, as well as a possible promotion within the Browns organization.
For Chicago, Vrabel’s experience and culture of toughness would represent a significant upgrade over Eberflus and the mess they’ve been dealing with for years now.
If the reports are true, we could be mere weeks away from Vrabel being named as the new head coach in Chicago.
What are your thoughts on the reports? … Will Vrabel indeed wind up with the Bears???
