Potential Bears Coaching Hire Now Off the Market After Rumors

The Chicago Bears have four more games left in the 2024 campaign. With games against the Vikings, Lions, and the Packers left, the Bears have a chance to spoil the playoff race and make a real impact on seeding. However, Bears fans are far less interested in results in the final stretch of the season than what the team will look like in 2025.

Who the next head coach will be is the biggest question that needs answering for the Bears. After parting ways with Matt Eberflus, the Bears entrusted Thomas Brown with an interim HC title. It is almost a certainty that there will be a different name in charge for next season.

One of the names that was regularly in the rumor mill for the Bears' coaching vacancy was Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. The young and talented coach was expected to be heavily involved in the 2025 NFL coaching cycle. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Monday, however, that Freeman signed a long-term contract extension to stay with Notre Dame.

Potential Bears HC Candidate Marcus Freeman Staying in Notre Dame

This removes one potential frontrunner from the running in Chicago. It will be interesting to see if Freeman continues to receive interest from the NFL as he continues to find success with the Fighting Irish.

During Freeman's tenure, Notre Dame has gone 30-9, including an 11-1 record this season, their only loss coming at home against Northern Illinois as 29.5-point favorites. The program still earned a spot in the College Football Playoff as they prepare to face Indiana on Friday.

Now that Freeman is no longer an option, the Bears will go back to the drawing board. The presumed top candidates for the position are Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Bills OC Joe Brady, and Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury. Whether the Bears leadership opts for one of these names or consider other collegiate coaches remains to be seen.

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