Latest Chicago Bears OC Interview Reveals A Clever Plan Is In Motion

Sources told SM yesterday that the Chicago Bears weren’t approaching their list of offensive coordinator interviews, as many believe. The truth is they’ve been hoping to secure some candidates for other staff positions. For example, Greg Olson would be a terrific quarterbacks coach. Greg Roman is an ideal run game coordinator. If people want more proof that this is what the Bears are doing, they need look no further than the latest candidate to emerge, Thomas Brown.

The 37-year-old served as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers this past season. Given how poorly the unit played most of the year, it seems odd the Bears would be interested in him for the same position. In truth, it is a virtual guarantee that isn’t what they have in mind for him. Chicago also has a vacancy at running backs coach on their staff. Before joining Carolina, Brown spent most of his career dating back to 2012 as a running backs coach. He served that exact role under Sean McVay in 2020 and 2021, helping the Rams to win a Super Bowl.

He was a significant influence in the young careers of guys like Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, Melvin Gordon, and Chuba Hubbard.

The Chicago Bears are smart to target Brown.

It speaks to a plan that indicates they’re looking for quality assistants with experience and putting them in jobs they are most comfortable with. Olson has been a tremendous quarterbacks coach with several organizations. The same goes for Brown with running backs. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus want to assemble an experienced and accomplished staff, in stark contrast to the youth movement they tried under Luke Getsy. This isn’t a huge surprise. It remains to be seen whether they can pull it off.

Waldron is a free agent after Pete Carroll was dismissed as head coach. The same goes for Olson. Roman hasn’t been hired by anybody since Baltimore fired him early last year. There is every reason to think the Chicago Bears believe they can bring these guys together. Brown would be another crucial piece to the puzzle. Eberflus clearly wants to keep the Shanahan/McVay scheme in place. He wants to run the ball well, knowing it will help his defense and ease pressure on the young quarterback Chicago is likely to draft.

One can only hope they make something happen.