At 0-2, the Chicago Bears should be real close to sounding the alarm. After an offseason filled with much hope and plenty of additions to this roster, they're looking like the same team once again, but the offensive woes are what's most concerning.
As it stands, the Bears are currently the NFL's 28th ranked offense overall, checking in at 25th in passing and 21st in rushing after two games.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has done the team no favors, and for two straight weeks, the opposing team has called him out stating they knew what the Bears were going to run in certain situations.
More locker room video from Sunday: Lavonte David says “everybody knew what was coming” from Bears on Shaq Barrett’s game-clinching pick-six: pic.twitter.com/F3tdDsjGy4
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 18, 2023
It's time the Bears move on from Getsy. The only question becomes, who do the Bears look at hiring to replace him next offseason? We look at three early candidates.
1. Joe Brady, Quarterbacks Coach, Buffalo Bills
Joe Brady has been around some of the league's top quarterbacks over the last few years, whether it's been in college or the pros. Currently, he's the quarterbacks coach in Buffalo where he gets the chance to work with Josh Allen.
Previously, Brady was in Carolina under Matt Rhule before he was fired. That stint shouldn't hurt Brady's reputation whatsoever, though, as it was more Rhule being bad than anything Brady did. Brady was also Joe Burrow's quarterbacks coach at LSU, which is a feather in his cap.
Before that, Brady was in New Orleans where he worked with Drew Brees.
He's been a hot name in the past, even for a head coaching gig, and if he came in and helped develop Justin Fields (or a rookie in 2024 -- you never know) he could have that title very soon.
2. Chris Foerster, Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
Typically, if you were to pluck one of Kyle Shanahan's top assistants from his team, you're going to be just fine. Take a look at a recent example in Mike McDaniel with the Miami Dolphins. McDaniel has done wonders with Tua Tagovailoa and that offense.
The Bears could have the chance to snag another Shanahan assistant in current 49ers offensive line coach, and run game coordinator, Chris Foerster. Remember, before Foerster, it was McDaniel who served as the run game coordinator.
Not only are the 49ers a great running football team, but they also have one of the top offensive lines in football. Foerster has much to do with that. Of course, it helps having Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and the mind of Kyle Shanahan. But, the 49ers have also endured plenty of injuries at the quarterback position in the last year and a half, and the run game has continued to flourish, being the catalyst of this offense as a whole.
Foerster is off to an excellent start in 2023 and could be a prime candidate to land an offensive coordinator gig next year.
3. Brian Johnson, Quarterbacks Coach, Philadelphia Eagles
Over the course of this last offseason, the comparisons between Jalen Hurts and Justin Fields ran wild. Every Bears fan wanted to see Fields take a similar leap to the one Hurts took last year, and Chicago had set him up to do so. Giving him an alpha wide receiver in D.J. Moore, like the Eagles did with A.J. Brown, and adding talent in the back field and offensive line, should have been enough.
But, through two games, Fields has not looked the part.
Current Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson is another guy who will have a great shot at landing an offensive coordinator job next offseason, should the Eagles' success continue.
Hurts' leap can be credited much to Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen, but Johnson has also had a hand in developing Hurts into one of the league's best quarterbacks who also happened to land a historic contract during the offseason.
The Eagles run a scheme that features necessary offensive line play, along with a strong run game, which is something the Bears should try and emulate. Johnson could help do so, and he'll have a shot to move up the ranks in 2024.