NFL Insider: Thomas Brown reportedly getting ‘real look’ for Bears’ HC job after Eberflus firing | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

As Thomas Brown prepares to lead the Chicago Bears as interim coach for the remainder of this season, he could also be in line for the full-time job in 2025.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Brown will get a “real look” from the Bears in the offseason as they conduct an extensive search for a new head coach.

Chicago fired Matt Eberflus on Friday amid a six-game losing streak, including a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

Brown enjoyed a rapid rise up the coaching ladder in Chicago. He was hired as passing game coordinator in January and then promoted to offensive coordinator when Shane Waldron was fired on November 12th.

Brown’s biggest highlight is Caleb Williams’ improved play since he started calling plays for the offense.

In nine games under Waldron, Williams averaged 198.3 passing yards and 26.3 rushing yards. He threw nine touchdown passes, five interceptions and completed 60.5 percent of his attempts

Since Brown took over as offensive coordinator, Williams is averaging 275.7 passing yards, 47.3 rushing yards with five touchdown passes and no interceptions in three games.

Brown has extensive coaching experience, although this interim stint with the Bears will be his first time as a head coach. He spent nine years in the college ranks from 2011 to 2019 before joining Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams staff as running backs coach in 2020.

After three seasons with the Rams, Brown spent the 2023 season with the Carolina Panthers as their offensive coordinator.

The top priority for any candidate the Bears interview this offseason should be hearing their plan to develop Williams into the star player they expect him to be after he is selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft became.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will likely be the top candidate for multiple teams. It’s unclear whether this will be the offseason he decides to become head coach after withdrawing his name from seeking a job in each of the last two years.

Brown’s direct relationship with Williams may not hurt his chances, but the Bears owe it to themselves to cast a wide net in their search. The story of interim head coaches getting full-time jobs with the same organization isn’t a very strong one.

Since 2000, there have been 12 interim coaches who got the permanent job. Leslie Frazier (Minnesota Vikings), Jason Garrett (Dallas Cowboys) and Doug Marrone (Jacksonville Jaguars) are the only coaches in this group who have made it through at least three full seasons with the team that hired them.

The Bears have fallen to 4-8 in their six-game losing streak after winning four of their first six games. Four losses during this slide resulted in a difference of three points or less. They are one loss away from their fourth straight losing season.