Starting right about now, the Chicago Bears' head coaching vacancy will be the hottest topic among the fan base, if it wasn't already. With just one week to go in the regular season, things on that front are going to heat up in a hurry.
Specifically, there is now one candidate who might end up interviewing sooner than any other.
Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the consulting agreement between the Cleveland Browns and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is now expired. This means Vrabel has the freedom to start interviewing for other jobs, immediately.
Vrabel coached the Titans from 2018-2023 before he was ultimately fired. In his first four seasons with the team, Vrabel led the Titans to a winning record. Vrabel opted to roll with quarterback Ryan Tannehill halfway through the 2019 regular season, benching Marcus Mariota, which ended up being his best campaign with the club.
The Titans would go on to appear in the AFC Championship Game that season.
Overall, Vrabel went 54-45 with the Titans and 2-3 in the postseason. Now, he'll have his chance at a second head coaching opportunity. Will it be with the Bears?
Mike Vrabel is the perfect head coach candidate if the Bears are looking for one thing, in particular
One thing, above all else, has been abundantly clear within the walls of Halas Hall for quite some time, now.
This team needs a complete culture change. The organization needs to be flipped on its head and swayed in a totally fresh direction. Players must be held to a higher standard. Coaches must be held to a higher standard.
Vrabel can do exactly that. He comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, which doesn't necessarily have the best track record of course. However, Vrabel has been one of the exceptions. He's that true "leader of men" which general manager Ryan Poles has publicly stated he's looking for in the next head coach.
Whether or not it's Poles or Kevin Warren who ultimately makes the decision (and who are we to believe, at this point, really?) this team has to find someone who can lead. Beyond anything else, the Bears must find a leader.
Vrabel is a leader. He will come in and radically change the culture of this organization, and in a hurry, too.
The only question then becomes whether or not Vrabel will be able to put together the right offensive staff to help Caleb Williams reach his ceiling. It's this question which leads many fans back to wanting Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to get the job.
But, can Johnson lead like Vrabel can? These might be the team's top two candidates when it's all said and done, so familiarize yourself with them as best you can (we'll continue helping in that regard).