The Chicago Bears’ search for their next head coach is underway, interview requests have been made, some interviews are scheduled, and I’m well into my head coaching candidate profiles here at Bleacher Nation. As I’ve been working through those and reading and listening to the conversation surrounding the search and the candidates, I’ve begun to move names up and down the board on the whiteboard in my office, so I figured, why not share them here?
Here are a few rules to keep in mind when digesting these rankings:
- These rankings are fluid. My opinions could change as I progress in my background work through the Bears’ head coaching candidate profiles at Bleacher Nation. There’s no doubt about that. These rankings look far different than my fittingly titled preliminary rankings that dropped after the Matt Eberflus firing.
- These rankings are based on various factors, including the “coach archetype,” their résumé, the potential staff they could conceivably build, and how the rest of the coaching cycle is playing out around the league, with all those factors not weighted equally.
- It’s okay to disagree, but even if we don’t see eye to eye, I hope you’ll still benefit from this being a centralized place where I can house thoughts on each candidate and their respective candidacy.
- These could be updated weekly or as other teams hire in the coaching cycle. We’ll see.
- Lastly, I will limit these rankings to my top five. Names can jump in and out and will do so as hires elsewhere take names off the board.
Chicago Bears Head Coach Candidate Power Rankings: January 8, 2025
Note: Each ranking will contain the coach, some background, and one big question that should be atop the list of interview questions when each candidate meets with the brass at Halas Hall. The rankings are broken into tiers.
Slam Dunk Hire
1. Ben Johnson — Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
This tier features my top two preferences to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bears. Consider them 1 and 1A more than 1 and 2.
Previous Ranking: 1 ↔️
The Short and Sweet
When it comes to Ben Johnson, only one question remains: can he be the offensive mind and the leader they need? Johnson is the clear-cut top offensive head coaching candidate, and the Bears need someone to lead the development of Caleb Williams. Johnson is as good a candidate as any, and if he wanted the job last offseason, he would already be leading the development of another quarterback from Williams’ draft class. Is this the landing spot Johnson has held out for?
One Big Question: Can Ben Johnson be the offensive mastermind the Bears need and the “leader of men” they want?
If I asked you whether or not you would take Dan Campbell as the next head coach of the Chicago Bears, I’m willing to wager my salary (and then some), and the answer would be yes. The logic would be that he is a leader and a motivator. So why do we assume his offensive coordinator, who has worked with him for years, wouldn’t share some of that fire and presence?
If you’re going to give a head coach candidate a chance to answer the question of whether or not they can be the offensive mastermind and leader of men the franchise needs and desires, who better than Johnson, who’s proven the first half and comes from the poster child for the latter?
Full Profile: Don’t Screw It Up: Ben Johnson Is the Offensive Innovator That’s Always Eluded Chicago
2. Todd Monken — Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens
Previous Ranking: 8 ⬆️
Why the change?: Monken’s ability to help Lamar Jackson become the most prolific version of himself in Baltimore over the past two seasons is a massive feather in Monken’s cap. Jackson, who had already won an MVP Award before Monken’s arrival, has won another and is the favorite to win a third this season under Monken. However, Monken’s notable work with quarterbacks is hardly limited to Jackson.
The Short and Sweet
Monken’s work in Baltimore, including back-to-back (likely) MVP seasons for Lamar Jackson, is top-of-mind, but his work maximizing quarterbacks and offenses goes well beyond Jackson and the Ravens.
Monken’s ability to develop quarterbacks is well-documented. During his tenure as offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2019, he helped Baker Mayfield achieve what was then a career-high 3,827 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, showcasing his skill in maximizing a quarterback’s potential.
In Tampa Bay, Monken oversaw the duo of Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick, guiding an offense that led the NFL in passing yards (320.3 per game) in 2018. His system emphasized vertical passing concepts, averaging a league-high 10.3 air yards per attempt, which would align perfectly with Caleb Williams’ ability to stretch the field.
Monken has consistently demonstrated his ability to get the best out of his playmakers. In Tampa Bay, he orchestrated record-breaking seasons for WR Mike Evans, who recorded a career-high 1,524 receiving yards and earned Pro Bowl honors under Monken’s guidance. Similarly, Monken helped Odell Beckham Jr. achieve his most recent 1,000-yard season in Cleveland.
For the Bears, Monken’s ability to build an offense around Williams while maximizing the output of key skill players like DJ Moore and the running back corps could transform the team into an offensive juggernaut.
Monken has showcased a diverse offensive approach tailored to his personnel throughout his career. From Tampa Bay’s high-powered vertical attack to Cleveland’s balanced offense featuring Nick Chubb’s league-leading rushing production, Monken has proven adaptable. This flexibility would be invaluable in designing an offense suited to Caleb Williams’ dual-threat capabilities, blending deep passing concepts with a strong ground game to take advantage of Williams’ elite athleticism and arm talent.
One Big Question: Given Monken’s résumé, why hasn’t he been hired (or even seriously considered) as a head coach in the NFL?
This question was posed by a regular commenter here at BN, and I think it’s the best question surrounding Monken’s candidacy for the Bears HC job.
It’s likely a variety of things, but as one commenter pointed out (sometimes there are intelligent conversations in the comments), for as good as his work was in developing quarterbacks and other offensive weapons in Tampa Bay and Cleveland, those teams stunk, which could have led to him flying under the radar. When we do this yearly dance, the hot coordinators are almost always employed and in the spotlight because they’re playing in January.
There’s also the fact that Monken might not be some folk’s cup of tea (and I’m referring to the McCaskeys) in that he has a vocabulary described as “trucker mouth” recently by the Chicago Tribune’s Dan Wiederer.
As a casual f-bomb dropper myself, I don’t see that as an issue. If he can develop the fu— out of a quarterback, then he’s good in my book.
Full Profile: Todd Monken Checks a Bunch of Boxes
Strong Candidates
This tier of head coaching candidates round out my top five. They’re not my top choices, but they all have strong candidacies.
3. Joe Brady — Offensive Coordinator, Buffalo Bills
Previous Ranking: 2 ⬇️
Why the change?: Brady drops one spot in these updated rankings simply because Todd Monken moved into the second position.
I made it clear that Ben Johnson was my top choice for the Chicago Bears head coaching vacancy when I profiled him recently, so I won’t pretend throughout this series that I prefer another coach to the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. However, I will say that Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady is a close second. Perhaps even a 1B.
His work with Josh Allen and the Bills offense in the last year-plus since he replaced former OC Ken Dorsey has been sensational, and he’s helped Allen become the most efficient version of himself and an MVP contender, creating balance in the offense and boosting the rushing attack in Buffalo.
UPDATE (January 13): Brady is still a very strong candidate, and Buffalo’s offense was humming against Denver in the AFC Wild Card round. Brady was once my clear No. 2, but after doing my homework last week on Todd Monken, I prefer him ever so slightly to Brady.
One Big Question: Is Joe Brady a beneficiary of the talent he’s worked with, or is it the other way around?
When I look at Joe Brady’s success, you can’t miss that he’s worked with some incredible offensive weapons. So, it’s fair to ask whether he was the beneficiary of elite playmakers in his offenses or whether he helped elevate these talented playmakers.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Teddy Bridgewater’s best season came under Brady in 2020 when Bridgewater threw for 3,733 yards and 15 touchdowns in 15 games with the Panthers.
- Joe Burrow sat for two seasons at Ohio State before transferring to LSU. He threw for 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns during his first season at LSU in 2018 before Brady arrived.
- Ja’Marr Chase was at LSU in 2018 and caught 23 passes for 313 yards in 13 games.
- Justin Jefferson was also at LSU in 2018 and caught 54 passes for 875 yards in 13 games.
- In 2018, Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 658 yards on 146 attempts for the LSU Tigers.
- With Brady in the mix in 2019, those four players saw monumental year-over-year increases in their production, and three of them (Burrow, Jefferson, and Edwards-Helaire) were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, with Chase becoming a first-round pick the following season.
Then there’s Josh Allen, who has long been an elite NFL quarterback but is enjoying his best season under Brady. Allen is also on pace to have one of the lowest passing attempt totals of his career and one of his lowest rushing attempt totals. Josh Allen has never been more efficient than he is this year under Brady.
The answer is that Brady—like many other offensive coordinators turned head coaches—has experienced the luxury of working with elite offensive playmakers. But he’s elevated those players’ outputs at every stop.
That is a scenario I would be thrilled with if he could do the same with Caleb Williams in Chicago.
Full Profile: Joe Brady is a Strong Candidate
4. Pete Carroll — Special Advisor, Seattle Seahawks
Previous Ranking: 4 ↔️
The Short and Sweet
Go ahead. Call me crazy. Pete Carroll is the pick if we get this far down the list. Read: if we get this far down the list. That’s a massive if.
Pete Carroll will get an interview with the Chicago Bears this week after spending one season as an advisor for the Seattle Seahawks following the end of his decade-plus run as their head coach. If your first thought is that Carroll is up there in age, and this doesn’t seem like a great fit, timing-wise, I’m with you.
That said, Carroll’s resume is too strong to discard his candidacy at face value. I believe there’s a particular scenario in which Carroll could be the right hire, although I think it would come with more risk than other candidates despite some assuming Carroll should be labeled a “safe” hire.
One Big Question: What would the Pete Carroll succession plan look like?
If the Bears wanted to bring in Carroll, who checks many boxes, there would have to be a succession plan. That would be atop my list of questions if I’m running that interview.
Carrol was the architect of the ‘Legion of Boom’ defense in Seattle, and he helped turn Russell Wilson into a perennial All-Pro candidate in Seattle. He won a Super Bowl in Seattle and a National Championship at Caleb Williams’ alma mater, USC. He’s a player’s coach who has created winning cultures for decades.
I completely understand the appeal of hiring Carroll with the intent of maximizing the immediate success of the roster they currently have. But Carroll would be here for a good time, not a long time. That said, if the Bears were to try and cash in on Carroll’s wide-ranging abilities, they would need a succession plan.
Carroll coming in, creating a winning culture, maximizing the talent on the defensive side of the ball, and bringing in a competent OC and offensive staff to shepherd Williams from top prospect to top quarterback in the next couple of years is appealing. Still, I would feel most comfortable with this hire if Carroll has a clear plan to pass the torch to someone on his staff in a couple of years when he’s ready to hang it up for the sake of continuity rather than the Bears thanking him for his services and starting this process all over again.
That’s much easier said than done, though.
Full Profile: When It Comes to Résumés, Pete Carroll’s is as Strong as Any
5. Drew Petzing — Offensive Coordinator, Arizona Cardinals
Previous Ranking: 9 ⬆️
Why the change?: Petzing is a fast climber for me. He’s done a tremendous job in Arizona with much less to work with than candidates above him on this list. He’s regarded as a wise leader with a strong voice and the ability to teach.
The Short and Sweet
Similar to the other candidates with an offensive background, Petzing fits the Bears’ top need: an offensive-minded head coach who can be paired with Caleb Williams to oversee his development. Likewise, he lacks previous head coaching experience, which raises the question of whether he can run the offense and the rest of the shop.
Petzing has done a tremendous job of developing a smash-mouth rushing attack in Arizona and a respectable—and underrated—passing attack. Arizona’s rushing attack ranked first in the NFC West in yards, yards per attempt, touchdowns, explosive runs, 40-plus-yard runs, and first downs. Pretty impressive.
As for the passing game, Petzing helped Kyler Murray turn in a respectable season, despite Murray’s penchant for turnovers significantly contributing to a 2-5 finish that cost them a shot at the playoffs. Murray threw for 3,851 yards (11th) and 21 touchdowns (13th).
Then there’s the fact that Arizona’s offensive line was phenomenal despite dealing with injuries and using a bevy of makeshift lineups throughout the season. He’s also overseen the superstar transformation of tight end Trey McBride, who racked up 1,146 yards this season.
Petzing’s work in Arizona has all the makings of someone who can be the solution in Chicago if that’s their route.
One Big Question: What would Drew Petzing’s offense look like?
Through this process, we’re learning about many offensive minds, but Petzing’s design strikes me as slightly different from the rest. In Arizona, he’s built a juggernaut rushing attack with James Conner, Michael Carter, and DeeJay Dallas.
The Cardinals drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. last April to give Murray a bona fide WR1 in the offense. Petzing still made Arizona’s offense one that leans into 12 and 13 personnel, bruises opponents on the ground, and used that NFC West-best rushing attack to open up the pass and find success through the air with Kyler Murray, to the tune of almost 4,000 passing yards and 21 scores.
Petzing’s offense starts with the rushing attack but is anything but one-dimensional. This season, Kyler Murray posted the third-highest QBR, second-highest completion percentage, and third-highest passer rating of his career. Marvin Harrison Jr. posted 885 yards and eight touchdowns, and I’ve already mentioned what Trey McBride did.
Petzing has also groomed a stellar offensive line coach, Klayton Adams, who could be a name he adds to his coaching staff wherever he lands during the coaching cycle.
Petzing established a top-tier rushing attack, for those keeping score, built the passing game off of that, and maximized his offensive line production despite injuries throughout the season. These were the three biggest problems the Bears’ offense had this season.
Here’s something I found extremely noteworthy while doing my homework on Petzing (via Walter Mitchell at Revenge of the Birds): When the Arizona Cardinals lost to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, the passing game looked disjointed and ineffective. The following week, Arizona’s offense beat the Dolphins 28-27 on the road, and the passing game produced big. Murray completed 26-of-36 passes for 307 yards (8.5), two touchdowns, no interceptions, and no sacks. Trey McBride had nine catches for 124 yards, and Marvin Harrison Jr. had six for 111 and a touchdown.
When Petzing was asked what changed week-to-week for the passing game, he replied, “Nothing changed. We did a better job of executing the plays.”
If nothing else, he’s resolute in his offensive design and philosophies. Kyler Murray has called Petzing an “offensive genius.” Meanwhile, Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon said of Petzing that he was a great teacher and a crystal-clear communicator.
I’ll leave you with this evaluation of Petzing from Jonathan Gannon:
“He knows how to teach, he’s got really good command, he can get the best out of people, he’s extremely intelligent, and I think he knows what’s going on,” Gannon added. “He’s had some good experiences, around a lot of good guys—I’m probably not one of them—and he’s been trained the right way. He’s got a growth mindset; he knows where he is strong and where he needs help. I think he’d do a really good job.”
Full Profile: Drew Petzing’s Work in Arizona Was Impressive
Best of the Rest
This tier features a group of candidates who are not on my short list of preferred hires but are still legitimate candidates who I could see having success if they could nail their big question and put together excellent staff around them. Basically, I don’t love these candidates, but I don’t hate them either.
6. Liam Coen — Offensive Coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous Ranking: 5 ⬇️
Why the Change: I still like Liam Coen as a candidate, but he’s fallen just outside of my top five due to the strength of other candidates’ profiles. He leads the Best of the Rest tier and would be considered someone I wouldn’t dislike but wouldn’t prefer to the candidates above him.
Coen was a candidate to lead the Bears offense this offseason and a former Sean McVay disciple. Coen took the Bucs’ OC job this offseason, and he’s helped the Bucs become the league’s fourth-highest-scoring offense this season at 28.1 points per game with Baker Mayfield under center. Tampa Bay ranks 6th in EPA, 5th in EPA/Pass, and 11th in EPA/Rush this season.
One Big Question: What makes Liam Coen different than Shane Waldron and Thomas Brown?
Like his predecessor in Tampa Bay, Dave Canales, Coen worked under and was influenced by now-departed Bears OC Shane Waldron. Waldron was with the Rams from 2017-20, serving as the tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach, and passing game coordinator.
I’m sure there will be some parallels between Waldron and Coen, which Coen mentioned during his opening press conference in Tampa Bay. He said that Dave Canales—who worked under Waldron in Seattle—and his offenses share some features.
“I think it will be actually very similar in terms of some of the terminology,” Coen said. “The run game I think will be really similar in some ways. Formations – some ‘daffy’ might be ‘dixie’ or ‘double’ might be ‘deuce’ – some of those things may be a little different, but at the end of the day, those guys [know], ‘Okay, well that was just this.’ They can put those things together.
“The protections I’ve got to believe will be very similar in some ways. Dave was with Shane Waldron in Seattle, so there are a lot of similarities there. I don’t expect an overly difficult learning curve, but obviously, we’ll want to be able to put our stamp on things and be able to do things our way, as well.”
But by all accounts, Coen is regarded as a more dynamic and creative play-caller than Waldron and has a reputation for creative play design and incorporating more gadget concepts. Coen is more aggressive than Waldron and pushes the tempo more than his former colleague.
While there will be some shared concepts and principles, Coen seems to bring a more dynamic and adaptable design to the table than Waldron did.
Full Profile: Liam Coen Is What the Bears Wanted in Shane Waldron
7. Aaron Glenn — Defensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
Previous Ranking: 3 ⬇️
Why the change: Like Coen, Glenn slid a bit in these rankings because, after another week of research, there are stronger candidates that I prefer to him. I still consider Glenn my top choice among defensive coordinators (I don’t consider Pete Carroll a part of this group, given his versatile coaching archetype).
The Detroit Lions’ rise as Super Bowl favorites and plenty of credit should go to their defense, which has become a top-five unit under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. In his fourth year, Glenn’s leadership and extensive NFL experience—spanning roles as a Pro Bowl cornerback, scout, and coach—make him a strong candidate for head coaching positions. While he may need a solid plan for selecting an offensive coordinator, Glenn’s role in the Lions’ transformation from a struggling team to a championship contender further bolsters his credentials.
One Big Question: Could Aaron Glenn dip into the Lions’ offensive pool?
If Glenn were to land the Bears’ head coaching gig, he would need to land an offensive coordinator who could be tasked with Caleb Williams’ development. Would Detroit Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell be interested in joining Glenn in Chicago as his offensive coordinator?
Brunell has served as the Lions’ quarterbacks coach for the past four seasons and has worked closely with Jared Goff during his renaissance in Detroit. Brunell has led Ben Johnson’s quarterback’s room during Johnson’s time in Detroit and has a firm knowledge of his system and design, working with Goff—during the most successful stretch of his career—and Matthew Stafford.
Like Glenn, Brunell boasts a lengthy and successful playing career, with Brunell playing more than a decade as a quarterback, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to two AFC Central division titles and four playoff appearances, and guiding Washington to the NFC East crown in 2005. Brunell was also the quarterback of the 1991 National Championship Washington Huskies team and appeared in three Rose Bowls.
Tanner Engstrand (passing game coordinator) and Antwaan Randle El (wide receivers) are two other names in the Detroit offensive room that could interest the Bears if Glenn lands the head coaching job.
In Glenn’s interview, the question of who he could bring with him from that successful offensive group would be near the top of the list for me.
Full Profile: Aaron Glenn Tops My List of Non-Offensive Candidates
Consolation Prizes
If the Bears somehow flub this process with the seven candidates ranked above, these candidates would feel like nothing more than a consolation prize despite all three having some legitimate potential and upside beyond initial reactions.
8. Kliff Kingsbury — Offensive Coordinator, Washington Commanders
Previous Ranking: 11 ⬆️
Kingsbury has ties to Williams from their time together at USC, but that was Lincoln Riley’s show, and Kingsbury was an assistant. He rode that back into the NFL after being ousted in Arizona a few years ago. Now he’s earned an interview with the Bears for their head coaching vacancy after being passed on for the OC job in Chicago last offseason.
I think the “connection” to Caleb Williams has been incredibly overblown and shouldn’t be considered a leverage point for Kingsbury over another candidate. That said, Kingsbury’s résumé without a connection to Caleb Williams doesn’t excite me much.
Kingsbury has been successful as an offensive coach during his stops in the collegiate and pro ranks, but his time in Arizona left plenty to be desired regarding his ability to be an NFL head coach. That’s what sets him apart from other offensive coaches we’ve discussed through this process who have never been head coaches in the NFL.
While Kingsbury recently admitted he didn’t set the foundation the way he wanted in Arizona after spending a year with Dan Quinn, I’m not convinced he’s ready for another bite at the apple just yet.
9. Marcus Freeman — Head Coach, Notre Dame
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
I love Marcus Freeman as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I think he’s highly intelligent, an expert motivator, and a strong tone-setter. If you watched the Fighting Irish’s victory over Penn State in the CFP semi-final last week, you watched a masterclass in coaching by the 39-year-old rising star. That said, I don’t think Freeman is ready for the NFL. I would love to be wrong, but I think he’s better served remaining at Notre Dame (for now).
10. Zac Robinson — Offensive Coordinator, Atlanta Falcons
Previous Ranking: 7 ⬇️
Zac Robinson is a successful branch of the Sean McVay tree, and he’s done a solid job in his first season as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons this season. But he’s a lot like Liam Coen, and I consider Robinson the lesser of the two McVay disciples right now.
Thanks, But No Thanks
This tier includes coaches I want no part of and would be devastated by their hiring. Most of this list has me questioning the Bears’ process and wondering why they’re even getting an interview. Casting a wide net is one thing, but the bottom half of this list has no business getting a look.
11. Brian Flores — Defensive Coordinator, Minnesota Vikings
Previous Ranking: 10 ⬇️
There was a time when I thought Brian Flores could be a strong head coaching candidate if given a second chance, but too much about his style and demeanor has surfaced in the years since I came to the conclusion for me to consider him a legitimate head coaching candidate any further. Flores is a heck of a defensive coordinator, and I hate seeing him in the NFC North, but I believe that’s his ceiling.
12. Ron Rivera — Free Agent
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
Like most Bears fans, I’m thankful for Rivera’s previous contributions to the franchise—and wouldn’t be opposed to him being considered for an assistant head coach/defensive coordinator role—but I want no part of Rivera becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
13. Anthony Weaver — Defensive Coordinator, Miami Dolphins
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
Weaver seems like a fine defensive coordinator, and he’s regarded as a player’s coach, but I don’t think there’s been or should be any serious consideration for Weaver as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
14. Vance Joseph — Defensive Coordinator, Denver Broncos
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
Joseph has done a tremendous job of leading Denver’s defense (although Josh Allen and the Bills shredded it on Sunday in the Wild Card round), but I have no interest here.
15. Arthur Smith — Offensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
Arthur Smith even being on this list proves how wildly (necessarily) large the net the Bears have cast during this process. Smith has no business being considered for this job, and while I have no issue with a wide net and due diligence, this seems like an absolute waste of time.
16. Matt Campbell — Head Coach, Iowa State
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
If Chicago wants to go the college route, Marcus Freeman is the only name remotely worth considering.
17. David Shaw — Senior Personnel Executive, Denver Broncos
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
For me, the former Stanford head coach falls into the same bucket as Matt Campbell.
18. Mika Kafka — Offensive Coordinator, New York Giants
Previous Ranking: NR ⬆️
Why are the Bears interviewing someone for a promotion when he’s not even good at his current job?
No Longer In Consideration
This group features candidates hired elsewhere, or there’s been a strongly sourced report that they’re no longer in consideration for the Bears head coaching vacancy.
Mike Vrabel — The New England Patriots announced on Jan. 12 that they’ve hired Vrabel as their next head coach. To no one’s surprise, Vrabel returns to New England, where he was a Super Bowl-winning linebacker. Vrabel made it as high as sixth on these rankings. While many loved the idea of Vrabel’s “culture,” I was never a fan of the concept. Vrabel’s time in Tennessee wasn’t all that impressive; his “culture” wore on his front office, and his offenses were vanilla and lacked teeth. At its peak, Vrabel’s offense featured Matt LaFleur as his OC, and he’s not bringing MLF to Chicago, so it was always a hard pass for me on Vrabel.