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Mike Vrabel's Top Choice for Bears Staff if Hired Leaked Ahead of Offseason

If the Chicago Bears hire Mike Vrabel as their next head coach, it seems like he already has an eye on certain individuals he wants on his staff.

By Devon Platana

Mike Vrabel during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio.
Mike Vrabel during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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After firing Matt Eberflus last month, finding a new head coach will be at the top of the Chicago Bears' "To-Do" list in the offseason.

The Bears will have several viable candidates to sort through in the coming months with Cleveland Browns consultant Mike Vrabel likely being one of the top targets. It was only on Tuesday when NFL insider Albert Breer reported that the 49-year-old defensive guru is likely general manager Ryan Poles' favorite candidate early in the process.

Assuming that the Bears do head in that direction, it looks like Vrabel already has his sights set on a few names he'd like to have on his staff in the Windy City.

Bears Rumors: Mike Vrabel Eyeing Potential Offensive Coordinators

On Tuesday, Breer reported on ESPN Radio that Vrabel would likely bring in either Josh McDaniels or Tommy Rees as his offensive coordinator (h/t @JAYChi_Bears).

Anyone who's familiar with Vrabel should know that neither of the aforementioned names is surprising.

After all, Vrabel's time as a New England Patriots linebacker (2001-08) overlapped with McDaniels' first run as a coach with the franchise. The duo won three Super Bowl rings during that stretch, so it wouldn't be a shock if they wanted to rekindle that magic in Chicago.

McDaniels, 48, most recently spent time as the Las Vegas Raiders HC in 2022 and 2023, going 9-16 during that stretch. Although head coaching success has eluded him, McDaniels does excel more as an offensive coordinator and could help turn around the Bears' attack, which is only averaging 19.0 PPG this season (25th).

Meanwhile, Rees is a former quarterback who's spent time with Notre Dame and Alabama as an offensive coordinator. He's currently the Browns' pass game specialist and tight ends coach, hence why Vrabel would likely want to continue working with him after spending time together in Cleveland this season.

If McDaniels or Rees can live up to their offensive potential, the Bears' outlook coaching-wise would look much more promising — especially with Vrabel's defensive-oriented mind anchoring the other side of the equation.

With three weeks remaining in the regular season, expect more names to enter the rumor mill. Even though Vrabel might have his preferred running mates at the moment, more candidates could emerge once the other NFL teams begin shaking up their respective staffs.

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