The Chicago Bears’ head coach hunt is gradually picking up the pace. And now, legendary NFL running back Eddie George has popped up as a surprise candidate for the franchise’s head coach vacancy.
Eddie George To Interview for Chicago Bears Head Coach Position
The Bears might be planning to bring the Tennessee State head coach on board for the upcoming NFL season and have scheduled an interview with the former Pro Bowler on Sunday.
George guided Tennessee State to a 9-4 record this season, their best record in his four years with the program. Overall, he has a 24-22 record with the Tigers.
The #Bears are scheduled to interview Eddie George for their HC position tomorrow morning, per @JayGlazer. The former #Titans RB has been coaching at Tennessee State University. pic.twitter.com/2sMOQLlTZv
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 19, 2025
George led his team to a co-conference championship and FCS playoff appearance this year and was named the 2024 Big South-OVC Coach of the Year.
In May 2023, the legend joined the Bears’ staff at OTAs as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
George’s collegiate career began with the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he rushed for 3,578 yards and 43 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In 1995, he won the Heisman Trophy, and in 2011, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Philadelphia-born runner played in the NFL for nine years, with seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons. George carried the momentum from his college days to the big stage, finishing his career with 10,441 rushing yards and 68 touchdowns. In 2006, he officially bid farewell to the NFL after spending the 2004 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
He became a Philadelphia Sports Hall of Famer in 2013.
The Bears’ search, led by general manager Ryan Poles, includes a long list of candidates ranging from seasoned head coaches like Ron Rivera to innovative coordinators such as Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson.
Chicago started the season promisingly at 4-2 before losing on a Jayden Daniels Hail Mary. That loss proved to be the turning point in their season. Following that defeat, they dropped nine straight games.
No loss hurt as much as Thanksgiving Day, as the Bears rallied from a 16-0 deficit against the Detroit Lions and were in field-goal range to send the game to overtime before a series of penalties, a sack, and mismanagement of the last 33 seconds led to a three-point loss and the end of Matt Eberflus’ tenure in the Windy City.
Things didn’t get better after Eberflus’ departure, though, as the Bears had to wait until Week 18 to register another victory.
