5 Chicago Bears coaching candidates to replace Matt Eberflus in 2024

Since Matt Eberflus took over as head coach, the Chicago Bears had been among the poorest teams in the NFL; but, at the end of the 2023 season, they began to play better. But with high hopes in Chicago and the possibility of a new quarterback on the horizon, it’s time to assess Bears coaching prospects.

Theoretically, Chicago might decide to keep Eberflus, viewing his outstanding efforts to improve the defense as justification for extending his contract. The Bears’ offense is still a complete mess, though, so if they manage to find a top offensive playmaker, they might as well install him as Chicago’s next head coach.

Let’s dive into our Chicago Bears coaching candidates in 2023.

Chicago Bears coaching candidates

Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was one of our favorite NFL coaching candidates for 2023. While he ultimately turned down an opportunity to become the Carolina Panthers head coach, everything we’ve seen from him as Detroit’s play-caller in recent years proves why he’s who you want to be partnered with a young quarterback.

There are a variety of ways to highlight Johnson’s prowess as a play-caller and offensive architect. In Jared Goff’s best seasons with Sean McVay (2017-’18), he posted a 100.8 QB rating with a 63.6% completion rate, 60-19 TD-INT split, 8.2 yards per attempt and averaged 273.9 passing yards per game. In Goff’s last two seasons with Johnson, he boasts a 99.2 QB rating with a 65.9% completion rate, 35-10 TD-INT line, 7.6 yards per attempt and averaged 260.3 passing yards per game.

The way he’s explaining the plays, the way he’s detailed with how we’ve got to run these routes in the red zone, I just knew the way he was talking to us, it just felt different. I told one of my teammates, I forgot who it was, I was like, ‘Bro, when Ben gets up there, he knows exactly what he’s talking about, he’s telling us what he sees in this play, what he wants us to do. There’s no gray area. It’s super detailed.’”

Amon-Ra St. Brown on Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (H/T ESPN)

As far as the Lions’ offensive efficiency, they are among the best in the NFL. Detroit averaged the fourth-highest yards per play (5.9) and placed fourth for red-zone touchdown rate (66.2%), Johnson maximizes his players’ strengths and does a phenomenal job of confusing defenses. Plus, he excels at explaining why things work and what he does to his players. That is exactly the type of coach you want working with Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.

Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans offensive coordinator

While Stroud was viewed as the most pro-ready quarterback entering the 2023 NFL Draft, he lacked elite physical traits. To make matters worse, the Texans’ situation deteriorated even further before the regular season with multiple starters on the offensive line missing. It seemed like a situation that would’ve led to disastrous results for Stroud and this offense.

Instead, thanks to Slowik, Stroud is enjoying a historic rookie season. He became just the sixth player in NFL history to average 300-plus passing yards per game with zero interceptions through the first four games of a season. He also has the second-most passing yards by a quarterback through four starts in NFL history.

Houston’s quick-hitting offense keeps everything in rhythm and it is also doing wonders for this offensive line. Despite missing three starters, including both offensive tackles, Houston has allowed the 11th-fewest sacks (three) and pressures (26) from Weeks 2-4. A play-caller who can make things easy for a rookie quarterback and mask problems with an offensive line is exactly the type of coach who should be partnered with a young signal-caller on a rebuilding team. Plus, we know NFL teams love diving into the Kyle Shanahan pool and Slowik’s time with the San Francisco 49ers was instrumental in shaping how he coaches today.

Houston’s quick-hitting offense keeps everything in rhythm and it is also doing wonders for this offensive line. Despite missing three starters, including both offensive tackles, Houston has allowed the 11th-fewest sacks (three) and pressures (26) from Weeks 2-4. A play-caller who can make things easy for a rookie quarterback and mask problems with an offensive line is exactly the type of coach who should be partnered with a young signal-caller on a rebuilding team. Plus, we know NFL teams love diving into the Kyle Shanahan pool and Slowik’s time with the San Francisco 49ers was instrumental in shaping how he coaches today.

Not only has Smith learned fromin the past two years, he’s also served on coaching staffs for Sean Payton and John Fox. He’s also credited with helping Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller with his sobriety and is renowned for being one of the best assistant coaches in the NFL at being able to connect with players and coach them up in ways tailored to what works for them.

Not only has Smith learned from McDaniel in the past two years, he’s also served on coaching staffs for Sean Payton and John Fox. He’s also credited with helping Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller with his sobriety and is renowned for being one of the best assistant coaches in the NFL at being able to connect with players and coach them up in ways tailored to what works for them.

If Shane Steichen hadn’t become the Indianapolis Colts head coach in 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles wouldn’t have Brian Johnson. He was highly sought after this past offseason, with multiple teams wanting to bring him in to interview for offensive coordinator vacancies. Instead, he filled the void left by Steichen.

Before landing in Philadelphia in 2021 as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach, where he worked one-on-one with Jalen Hurts, Johnson worked with the Florida Gators. As the Gators’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2020, he helped design one of the best offenses in college football. Then, working alongside Hurts in 2022, he helped Philadephia finish with one of the best passing offenses in the NFLN