NEWSLETTER
If you missed today’s Thomas Brown press conference, I suggest you watch it. My biggest takeaway is that this was a breath of fresh air. With reporters at Halas Hall, Brown was very much what he says he is to his players—clear, concise, and uplifting. He was matter-of-fact in his answers and the right amount of charming and light-spirited.
If that’s what the players are getting in the locker room, meetings, and the practice field, I can see why he is a popular person at Halas Hall.
As for how long he’ll be the voice at Halas Hall, Brown says he’s not focused on anything beyond the task at hand.
Thomas Brown Isn’t Worried About His Perceived “Extended Interview” with the Bears
Brown was asked today how he felt about a “massive career opportunity,” the five-game stretch in which he is basically auditioning for the permanent head coach gig at Halas Hall or elsewhere if the Bears go in a different direction.
“I don’t think about it at all. I just think about the moment. That does a really good job of trying to help me stay level-headed and not make the moment bigger than what it is,” Brown said. “I obviously understand the role that I’m in and I understand what might come with it, but I also understand that we make most situations bigger than what have to be because of the outside noise and how everybody else puts a value on it. I have a job to do; I’m excited about my job and committed to it every single day.”
What I love about that answer is that Brown didn’t try to deny the reality of the situation. He understands that these next five weeks will serve as a test of his readiness to be an NFL head coach. Even so, he’s not looking past what his job is today: the interim head coach of the Chicago Bears, who have five football games remaining this season.
It is a balance of candidness and truthfulness that’s refreshing and a departure from what we’re used to dealing with hearing behind that microphone. Again, if that’s what the players are getting, Brown will be able to get a positive response from them.
Brown Is Already Changing Things Up at Halas Hall
You may have noticed that Brown spoke to the media later than his predecessor usually did on Wednesdays. That’s because he has changed the schedule for the players, making media available after the walk-through and practice. Brown says that the decision was based on maximizing the players’ time and eliminating the break between morning meetings and the on-field work, something he said the players responded well to today.
Brown said that today’s work was energized and productive. He shared a similar assessment of the responses to the change at the helm during his conversations with them over the weekend and the initial meetings in the building on Monday.
What about Caleb Williams?
One of the reservations some had about Brown being elevated to the interim head coach role over the weekend was the balance between overseeing Caleb Williams’ development and handling all of the other responsibilities that come with being the head coach.
When asked about that today, Brown made it clear that he’s not the sole developer of Williams and that Williams and the rest of the offensive staff play a significant role in that job.
“First off, I’m not the sole person responsible for Caleb’s development,” Brown said. “He has a big part in that. I’ve been charged with leading the way for him and the team now as well, but I think his response has been awesome. My job is to be an effective communicator and be honest and direct [with Williams] about what he’s doing well and not doing well, and I had the same exact message for the [rest of] the team.”
During the three weeks that Brown was the offensive coordinator and called plays for Williams and the offense, many gave him all of the credit for Williams’ upward trend on the field. However, Brown was quick to dispel himself as the savior or sole reason for Williams’ success and instead placed credit and responsibility on Williams and the rest of his coaching staff. That sounds like someone who understands the importance of Williams’ development and how to balance leading that while leading the other 52 players in the locker room.
How refreshing.
