While Matt Eberflus is still technically the head coach of the Chicago Bears, his job is likely on the line unless there’s a remarkable turnaround by the end of the season. Eberflus has posted a 14-30 record over three years, firing one defensive coordinator and two offensive coordinators in the past two seasons. His tenure has been filled with more struggles than successes.
As speculation grows about Eberflus’s future, Bill Zimmerman from Windy City Gridiron shared his top coaching candidates on X. Alongside current Bears offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, Zimmerman mentioned several notable names: Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson, Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Liam Coen, Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore, Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, and Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores.
Among them, one surprise “dark horse” candidate is former Bears quarterback Josh McCown.
McCown, who played for 16 seasons with nine different NFL teams, was with the Bears twice, first as a backup to Jay Cutler in 2011, and then again in 2013. His performance that year was unforgettable—when Cutler went down with an injury, McCown stepped up, throwing for 1,829 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just one interception, finishing with a passer rating of 109.0, the best in franchise history at the time. His efficiency and leadership earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 14, and he set a Bears record for three consecutive games with over 300 passing yards.
Despite his success, head coach Marc Trestman chose to return to Cutler when he was healthy, ending McCown’s brief but impressive run.
In terms of coaching, McCown has limited experience at the NFL level. After interviewing for the Houston Texans’ head coach role in 2021 and 2022, McCown began his coaching career in 2023 as the quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers, helping develop rookie Bryce Young. He moved to the Minnesota Vikings as their quarterbacks coach in 2024, bringing his wealth of experience to the role.
Zimmerman considers McCown a long shot for the Bears’ head coaching job, but his familiarity with the team and leadership experience might make him a candidate worth watching. It remains to be seen which direction the Bears will take as they look to the future.