To place it merely, it’s been a tough season for the Chicago Bears. There have been excessive hopes for 2024 No. 1 total 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 thru 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). After which all of it fell aside.
Who can neglect the fateful Hail Mary heard across the Windy Metropolis in Week 8? And whereas there’s actually 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 working out of time and never trying a subject objective 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 just a few 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 shall be teaching this workforce 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 obtainable 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 advised 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 changing 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 just a few names.
Right here is how Greenberg distributed his $100, alongside along with his reasoning:
Kliff Kingsbury +250
Kingsbury has been a dropping head coach in each school and the NFL, so he would match completely with the present tradition at Halas Corridor. This is a corporation continually reminding us how to not study from failure, so possibly Kingsbury is the following 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. Wager: $25
Mike Vrabel +400
What does “chief of males” imply? Our Dianna Russini has been attempting to kind that out. I assume Vrabel matches the archetype, proper? Bodily, he appears like somebody that soccer gamers wouldn’t wish to cross and he carries a bravado that you may’t bluff. Plus, he’s performed at a excessive degree. I feel he’s too alpha for Halas Corridor, which seems like a dumb factor to say except you’ve lined (or intently adopted) this workforce like I’ve. Wager: Move
Ben Johnson +450
Ipswich City is close to the underside of the desk within the Premier League, so possibly the workforce and Johnson would think about one other switch regardless of him simply getting there? Oh, we’re speaking concerning the soccer coach in Detroit. He’s been a sizzling identify, so I’m a little bit shocked he’s not first on this listing, however possibly 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 essential), I’m questioning if Johnson has the persona to suit the job description. Nonetheless, he’s the traditional knowledge choose. Wager: $25
Joe Brady +500
Meh. Brady rode Joe Burrow’s coattails to a plum NFL gig in Carolina and washed out of a dysfunctional scenario shortly. Now he’s the offensive coordinator for Josh Allen in Buffalo and we’re speculated to consider he’s head teaching materials? I’m positive he’s a advantageous coach, however I’m shocked the percentages are this low. Wager: Move
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. Nevertheless, the ex-player is an interesting speaker and coach, and he has that swagger to him. Individuals gravitate towards him and I might actually see the Bears selling him as their Mike Tomlin, particularly if he wins a few video games down the stretch. An NFL govt joked with me that if Brown coaches the Bears to their first Sunday street win since 2021 (severely, that’s a stat), he’ll get a seven-year deal. Wager: $15
Aaron Glenn +1200
Glenn will get overshadowed by Johnson, his fellow Lions coordinator, however he appears undervalued right here. Glenn was a Professional 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 exhibits curiosity? Wager: $10
Brian Flores +2000
Studying up on him, I feel Flores, the defensive coordinator in Minnesota, is the appropriate man for this workforce right now. Flores’ success in Minnesota is evident however the huge mark towards him is he didn’t have relationship with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa whereas he was the pinnacle 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. On condition that Williams is the franchise cornerstone, you’d assume that may eradicate him, however it will rely upon the interview. I’d positively ask him what he gleaned from Mike Tomlin in his stopover in Pittsburgh.
One other potential challenge: 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. Wager: $25
Ought to the Chicago Bears make a run at Invoice Belichick? 🤔
🎧 Pay attention: pic.twitter.com/WCB66NAyZw
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 4, 2024
Invoice Belichick +7500
I want we lived in a world the place Belichick coached the Bears, however I don’t see that occuring for quite a lot of causes. This simply isn’t that kind of group. I’m unsure there are too many groups keen to cede complete soccer operations management to a 72-year-old Belichick, even when he’s one of the best coach in league historical past. Wager: Move
