Three games into the 2024 season, and Chicago Bears fans are already calling for heads to roll. Clearly, this team is not where they should have been just a few weeks in.
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has been hampered by offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and poor offensive line play. The team, itself, seems to be unprepared, which is an indictment on head coach Matt Eberflus.
At this point, it's time to start looking ahead. Now, the Bears have never fired a coach during the season. However, this narrative is only going to continue building from here on out.
If the Bears underwhelm this year, as they have been doing, Eberflus is as good as gone. This organization isn't going to waste additional time trying to develop a franchise quarterback like Williams.
After a less-than-stellar start to the year, let's start looking at some options if the Bears decided to move on from Eberflus after this season.
The Bears have a perfect Matt Eberflus replacement within the NFC North
Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
If you look around the league, one of the trends has been offensive head coaches being hired to help develop young quarterbacks. Over on the Detroit Lions' coaching staff, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is still there after opting to stay on board a little while longer.
But, if the Bears' head coaching job came available, that would be one Johnson is going to jump at. Every offensive coordinator looking to make the climb to head coach is going to want to get their hands on Caleb Williams. And, after seeing what Johnson has done with Jared Goff, the possibilities with Johnson and Williams appear to be endless.
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Goff has become a long-term option in Detroit after being a throw-in on the Matthew Stafford trade. If Johnson was able to get a young, moldable talent like Williams? Look out.
Klay Kubiak, San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator
If you recognize the last name, it won't take you long to get on board with this one. The Kubiak coaching tree is certainly one you want to pick from, these days, and yes, there's another one.
Klay Kubiak coordinates the the passing game for the 49ers and is in his first year with that role, taking over for his brother Klint who went on to become the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.
Now, hiring an assistant coach who isn't even an offensive coordinator might seem like a huge risk, but it's worked before, and from within the 49ers' organization. See Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins, where Tua Tagovailoa was turned into quite the player after a rough start to his career.
Klay Kubiak would be a great offensive coordinator hire for the Bears, but if the Niners finish the season as a top NFC team once again, maybe he gets head coaching consideration.
Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator
Yep, we're doing this. The Kubiak name is one you want to have on your staff, period. The way Klint Kubiak has transformed the New Orleans Saints' offense, early on, has been nothing short of impressive.
Once again, this is a family full of offensive minds and it's one the Bears should strongly consider pulling from. Watching Kubiak take veteran Derek Carr and arguably a thin group of offensive weapons, and engineer that offense to a pair of 40-point performances within the first couple of weeks, was a bit of a surprise.
However, for the Kubiak family, it wasn't a surprise. This family knows ball, and Bears fans would be thrilled in hiring Klint.