The Chicago Bears recently fired head coach Matt Eberflus, who went 14-32 in his three seasons with the team. Thomas Brown will be the Bears’ interim head coach for the rest of the season, and the franchise has started the process of finding the best candidate for the job.
Recently, some Bears fans discussed the possibility of Jon Gruden becoming the team’s next head coach. Unfortunately for the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach, many of those fans did not welcome the idea of him coaching their team.
Bears Fans React to Jon Gruden Rumors
Gruden resigned from the Raiders in 2021 after the New York Times revealed some of his controversial emails sent to Bruce Allen. Since then, he has been away from the NFL but has started to gain traction on social media through his YouTube channel and his work for Barstool Sports.
Here’s how Bears fans reacted to the possibility of Gruden becoming the team’s head coach next year:
“Jon Gruden would be a nightmare,” said one fan.
Do y'all not remember why Jon Gruden got fired? https://t.co/LWwNA6BVPp
— Natanel ☃️ (@JustNatanel) December 3, 2024
“Reminder that Jon Gruden’s last playoff win came when ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem was the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100,” said one fan.
“An unserious candidate,” said another fan.
Excellent QB coach? Name one QB that he developed. Every time he had any success, it was with a veteran QB who would've been good with or without him
— Brad Miller (@BradMiller_WX) December 3, 2024
“Gruden hasn’t won since 2008. The game has changed so much since,” wrote a fan.
“He’s not even a good coach,” claimed another fan.
Jon Gruden coaching Caleb Williams would be a career destroying move for all parties involved https://t.co/YUgnrxlvPD
— Don V (@TheOfficialDonV) December 3, 2024
Gruden won the Super Bowl in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his time with the Raiders wasn’t something to be proud of. He went 60-57 in eight seasons with the Raiders across two separate stints and won only two playoff games (22-31 in his second stint with zero playoff wins across four seasons).
Due to his unceremonious exit from the league, it is hard to envision any team in the NFL offering Gruden an opportunity to become its head coach.
The Bears are 4-8 this season and have lost their last six games. Eberflus failed to get the best out of Caleb Williams and also reportedly lost the locker room. Firing him seemed to be the right decision, but the franchise must find a head coach who can bring the best out of its young quarterback.
Williams was a generational prospect heading into the 2024 NFL Draft but so far has failed to live up to his expectations. The upcoming offseason is crucial for the Bears as they have to get a new head coach and improve the offensive line, as Williams has already been sacked 49 times in 12 games.
Best Candidates To Be the Bears’ Head Coach in 2025
Aaron Rodgers was recently asked about the Bears’ situation, and he suggested that the franchise should hire someone who could connect with Williams on a personal level. As a result, the franchise needs to hire someone known for getting along well with the players and, at the same time, getting the best out of them.
Ben Johnson (Detroit Lions OC), Aaron Glenn (Lions DC), Mike Vrabel (Cleveland Browns assistant), and Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders OC) are four potential candidates for the Bears’ head coaching job next year.
Both Johnson and Glenn have done great work in Detroit and are a huge reason for their success. Getting one of them will help the Bears establish a winning culture and, at the same time, hurt their division rival.
Johnson will be one of the most sought-after candidates in the upcoming cycle, and it could be challenging for the Bears to convince him to coach in the Windy City. On the other hand, Kingsbury worked with Williams at USC and has been a head coach in the NFL. He doesn’t have the best résumé but has regularly excelled in developing quarterbacks, which could convince the Bears to pursue him.
Getting an offensive-minded head coach will be a priority for Chicago, but even if they pursue someone like Glenn or Vrabel, things could work out for them.