Bears HC candidate profile: Should Chicago keep Thomas Brown in house?

The Chicago Bears are searching for their next head coach, where general manager Ryan Poles will lead the charge in a wide-ranging search that will include up-and-coming coordinators, former head coaches and even a current head coach.

As the coaching carousel begins to take its spins around the league, there have been many names being connected to the Bears, including interim head coach Thomas Brown, who stepped in after Matt Eberflus was fired after a Thanksgiving disaster against the Detroit Lions. But will Brown get a legitimate shot at the job?

With Brown formally interviewing with Chicago, here's an in-depth look at Brown and what he could potentially bring to the Bears as their next head coach.

Background

• Current Job: Interim head coach, Chicago Bears (2024)

• Age: 38

• Hometown: Tucker, Georgia

• College: Georgia

Experience

• Interim head coach, Chicago Bears (2024–present)

• Offensive coordinator, Chicago Bears (2024)

• Passing game coordinator, Chicago Bears (2024)

• Offensive coordinator, Carolina Panthers (2023)

• Assistant head coach & tight ends coach, Los Angeles Rams (2022)

• Assistant head coach & running backs coach, Los Angeles Rams (2021)

• Running backs coach, Los Angeles Rams (2020)

• Running backs coach, South Carolina (2019)

• Offensive coordinator & running backs coach, Miami (FL) (2016–2018)

• Running backs coach, Georgia (2015)

• Running backs coach, Wisconsin (2014)

• Running backs coach, Marshall (2013)

• Running backs coach, Chattanooga (2012)

• Strength and conditioning coach, Georgia (2011)

Fit with Bears

More than anything, Brown's fit may be the input he leaves with general manager Ryan Poles and president Kevin Warren. The offense seemed at times to be much more ignited when he was named the offensive coordinator, which could spell out a role for him in the future if he stays with the Bears. Depending on who is hired at head coach, Brown could be viewed as an option to continue his relationship and development of Caleb Williams, so long as it could get in line with the next head coach's similar vision for the quarterback.

More than anything else, Brown earned the respect of the players on the team, immediately upon his promotion to offensive coordinator, and then interim head coach. It may be far too soon for Brown to test the waters as a head coach, but he was very much a challenging voice for all players, and that means he should have a role in Chicago if there is a spot available. Brown has already received interest from other teams for their vacant offensive coordinator position, so the Bears may want to emphasize keeping his voice and some continuity in the building for morale and locker room purposes.

They said it...

"Shooters shoot, he definitely shoots, which I appreciate, we'll continue to give him opportunities to shoot. Being able to understand the rhythm and timing for how plays develop, but also just taking the extra effort to go through a couple different plays from a practice standpoint. There's always going to be some carryover. The more things we have time on task with, the better execution you have."

-- Thomas Brown on the playing style of Caleb Williams (via Marquee Sports)

Bottom line

Brown was inserted into the spotlight for the Bears at a time that couldn't have been more difficult in the middle of a disappointing and lost season. Needing to move on from both offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus after they failed to have success and had questions about their coaching style, Brown flipped the room upside down in Chicago. His tenure was just as disappointing as the coaches he replaced this year, going 1-4 in his five games as interim head coach, with lopsided defeats being the usual result.

Brown has not been given a true fair shake at opportunities, as he had a similar coaching situation last season with the Carolina Panthers, where he found himself as interim offensive coordinator, and then out of a job after one year. He stepped up and took the opportunity given to him, although there was no real chance to save the season, he approached it as not only his job, but the most important task in his life to bring the Bears brand of football back, even if he did not get the results.

Chicago should want to keep a coach like Brown in the building, whether it be to build the team with some a familiar tone, or if it wants to keep a good, young, and learning coach from escaping elsewhere for success. It may be a stretch of the imagination to have him back with the Bears next season, but it wouldn't hurt by any means to have him as an offensive coordinator or coach.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC candidate profile: Should Chicago keep Thomas Brown in house?