Thomas Brown is a damn good coach.
But this column’s goal is not to argue that Brown must be the next head coach of the Chicago Bears. There should be and will be a process to make that determination. This column’s goal is to position Brown’s candidacy appropriately, to make the argument why Brown should be considered for the gig in 2025 and beyond.
First, the quarterback. For generations, the cry of the Bears fan has been that the organization fails young quarterbacks. Mitch Trubisky didn’t stink. (He did.) Justin Fields didn’t stink. (He also did.) The Bears failed them. (Sure.) Let’s look at the performance of Caleb Williams over the three games with Brown as his offensive coordinator.
Based on Caleb Williams’ pace with Thomas Brown as OC
Over a full season:
4692 passing yards
28 passing TDs
0 INTs
64.1 comp %
805 rushing yards— Nick Whalen (@_NickWhalen) November 29, 2024
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Yes, these are projections, not reality. But they are also a three-game sample size against the Packers, Vikings and Lions, the three teams the Bears need to beat consistently if they want to be a championship threat. Brown and Williams clearly have a rapport that is yielding a massive amount of production. What could be a more impressive line on a candidate’s resume than that? Isn’t Brown exactly the coach fans have yearned for when it comes to quarterback development?
Second, the options. Who are the Bears going to hire? Ben Johnson, Joe Brady, Liam Coen? All three are having excellent seasons as offensive coordinators but none of them are certainties in the top job. And wouldn’t the Bears simply be hoping those coordinators could come to Chicago and mirror the success Brown is currently having the quarterback? Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, Brian Flores? Three excellent coaches, but all three would be faced with the same question on day one: who is running the offense? Could they convince Brown to stay in the gig, should he not be offered a head coaching gig elsewhere?
Third, Brown is a leader. Take a few minutes and watch the video below.
Bears OC Thomas Brown gets it.
Matt Eberflus should take notes.pic.twitter.com/jFzmIaECTJ
— Dave (@dave_bfr) November 21, 2024
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I have not tweeted what I’m about to write, because quite frankly I thought it might come across as racist, but Brown gives me Mike Tomlin vibes. The head coach is as much a communicator as a tactician. He has to stand in front of the room and command attention. He has to inspire his players every week, even when they’re struggling to get out of bed on a Wednesday morning. He has to coach his coaches as much as he does his players. I don’t have to project leadership onto Brown. He exudes it.
Brown should not have been made the interim head coach for these final five games. He should have been left upstairs, focused on the offense, dedicated exclusively to the quarterback. But what’s done is done. And like it or not, he is going to be judged on how he manages the sideline over this final stretch. If the offense continues to produce, and the quarterback continues to thrive, Ryan Poles should move Brown to the top of his candidacy list. If the Bears win a bunch of these games, especially the ones against division opponents, that list should be a short one.