The Chicago Bears parted ways with head coach Matt Eberflus after Thanksgiving Day’s disastrous display of clock management. Now, the Bears are in the market for a new head coach. Could they find their next headman from the college ranks?
Here are five college coaches who could leap to the NFL to replace Matt Eberflus as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
College Football Coaches Who Could Coach the Chicago Bears
Remarkably, Eberflus is the first Bears head coach in the last century to be fired in the middle of the season. He had issues in close games, going 5-19 in games decided by one score, including losing all four one-score games this season.
The Bears have struggled to find a coach who can manage a roster in recent years, trying and failing with several former NFL coordinators.
Could the Bears succeed more by hiring a CEO-type coach from the college ranks?
If they decide to go that route, here are five guys who would make sense.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Head Coach
Maybe it’s just noise, but Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman is garnering a lot of attention from NFL teams, and for good reason.
Freeman is a first-time head coach at the college level but was a long-time defensive coordinator before getting his first head job. He’s known for his ability to coach well in big games, which hasn’t always been the case at Notre Dame.
Freeman has the Fighting Irish amid the College Football Playoff race behind a solid rushing attack, even with an injured defense and young offensive line.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State Head Coach
Another coach from the Midwest, Matt Campbell has more success with the Iowa State Cyclones than any other coach in their long history. Campbell is known for his ability to get the most out of his talent, which is often lesser than the teams around him.
Campbell doesn’t win with an elite recruiting ability or a gimmicky offense; instead, he changes his scheme to match his talent and is a proven winner.
Campbell has flirted with the NFL throughout his career, and the long-time head coach could leave if given the right offer.
Jedd Fisch, Washington Head Coach
Credit Jedd Fisch for taking on a challenging job with the Washington Huskies this season, and even more credit to Fisch for finding early success.
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There have been rumors that Fisch has considered returning to the NFL after two separate stints in the league. He was most recently the quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots in 2020 and has had success at multiple stops in the NFL.
In the college ranks, he’s been known for his ability to find early success and to tailor his scheme to his current players. It doesn’t hurt that he’s had recent success with quarterbacks, as Caleb Williams likely needs an offensive-minded head coach.
Lincoln Riley, USC Head Coach
Speaking of guys who could help Williams, say hello to Lincoln Riley. Williams followed Riley from the Oklahoma Sooners to the USC Trojans when Riley moved out to the West Coast.
Riley isn’t loving the post-Williams era at USC, and Williams isn’t loving the post-Riley era in the NFL. Could a reunion be the best for all parties? Riley is known for his abilities as a play-caller and quarterbacks coach, two things the Bears could use.
I’d imagine this would be a long shot for several reasons, but if the Bears want to go outside the box and are married to their top pick, they could certainly do worse than Riley.
Luke Fickell, Wisconsin Head Coach
Luke Fickell isn’t a good fit with the Wisconsin Badgers, but he’s a fantastic football coach who I think would be more successful elsewhere.
He’s a brilliant defensive mind who isn’t afraid to be aggressive when needed, and his teams typically play complementary football. Fickell can get the most out of his teams and would immediately gain the respect of the players in the locker room.
Fickell’s buyout might be an obstacle, as he’s only in Year 2 of a seven-year contract, but if the Bears want a coach who can immediately improve their culture, Fickell could be the guy.
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