Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates

For a team that currently has a head coach, the Chicago Bears are making it obvious that they are planning a change in the off-season.

Reports last week were the Bears were having internal discussions regarding the idea of hiring Jim Harbaugh as their head coach. This week, the latest name to be added to the candidate list for a potential Bears’ head coaching vacancy is Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

While it’s become clear that the Bears will not be making an in-season change, it’s becoming clear that Eberflus will not be the team’s head coach beyond this season. The only exception would be if the Bears run the table to end the season and make the playoffs.

The fact that the Bears have identified two names to potentially be their next head coach is a sign that team president Kevin Warren will be making changes once this season concludes.

Bieniemy should have been a stronger candidate when the Bears were looking to replace Matt Nagy after the 2021 season. However, there undoubtedly would have been pushback considering Bieniemy, at the time, held the same position that Nagy had before his hiring in 2018.

It’s become increasingly likely that the Bears are going to have the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The idea of the Bears wanting to hire an offensive-minded head coach such as Bieniemy to pair with Justin Fields and Marvin Harrison Jr. is a flawed idea. In a quarterback draft class that includes two legitimate quarterback prospects in Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, passing on either for a fourth year of evaluation on a quarterback who’s been unable to progress in three seasons would be a criminal mistake.