Mike Vrabel linked as a frontrunner as next Bears coach |
It may sound like a broken record before all is said and done, but get ready for plenty of rumors surrounding the Bears and their next head coach. Now that Matt Eberflus has been fired, Thomas Brown has taken over as the interim Head Coach, and barring a dramatic turnaround to end the season, he will most likely be looking for work next year.
He will, at the very least, get an interview following the season, but the Bears are done with these first-time head coaches for a while, and it does appear as if they want an established head coach with plenty of NFL experience. Not only that, but they want someone who they call a leader of men to change the culture of this franchise, as the overall culture of this franchise is shattered at best. That is where Mike Vrabel comes into play. He has heard his name mentioned to the Bears several times, and that may only be the beginning. It's not just the Chicago media hyping him up in Chicago; several media outlets around the country have been linking Vrabel to the Bears. It does appear that Chicago will be looking to give him a long and extensive look as their next head coach. Vrabel has been around the NFL coaching ranks for a while. He currently serves as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns after spending more than six seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Before that, he worked on Bill Belichick's staff as an LB coach and is often thought of as one of the most respected and detail-oriented coaches in the game. That alone is something the Bears need, as you never had the feeling that the locker room respected Eberflus. When it came to the details, what details should be the question, as Eberflus was outcoached nearly every time he stepped onto the field? It was a recipe for disaster right from the start and only got worse with every passing game. Hoping for a massive do-over this time, Ryan Poles knows he needs to nail the next hire, as his job solely depends on who takes over. Vrabel may not be the first choice among most fans, but he is an excellent choice and one that will set this franchise back up in the right direction. Take this quote from Jonathon Jones, for example. "Three open jobs — Saints, Jets, Bears — and I believe all three want to interview Mike Vrabel," Jones said. "The former coach of the year is a consultant with the Cleveland Browns, and he wants another head job. Sources I’ve talked to strangely believe he is going to get one. Now, I don’t understand why he would go to college, even if his alma mater, Ohio State, has an opening. I also believe Vrabel would prefer to go to a team with an established or veteran GM. … You want a coach to set the culture or be a leader of men; Michael George Vrabel is your huckleberry.” That is quite the pitch to give someone who isn't a head coach, and it's very intriguing when you think about it. Jones is a well-known reporter for the CBS Sports Network and has mentioned Vrabel to the Bears for over a week now. Sooner or later, you have to think there is some merit to that, as he will be the first of many big names to keep an eye on shortly. As much as the Bears could use an offensive-minded head coach, Vrabel fits the mold of the "Leader of Men" stature that this team is trying to build and is capable of putting together a great staff. That includes finding the right offensive coordinator for Caleb Williams, who continues to show his bright future. Although his tenure with the Titans ended following the 2023 season, Vrabel did plenty of nice things with that organization after being appointed Head Coach in 2018. He posted a 54-45 regular-season record and made the playoffs three times in his six seasons, going 2-3 in the postseason. That included one AFC Championship game appearance before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. While that record may not wow you, you must consider what Vrabel was working with, as he inherited Marcus Mariota when he first took the job and then had Ryan Tannehill for the next few seasons. Both of them had a few nice seasons, but neither of them is as talented as Williams, so you have to wonder what he could do with a solid QB in play. Had it not been for Derrick Henry carrying the team all those seasons, Vrable wouldn't have had the same success, and that is a concern heading into the offseason. Chicago is an organization in shambles and desperately needs a cultural shift. Vrabel is someone who will come in and change that culture and hold everyone in the organization accountable. Despite the Titans never being true Superbowl contenders, Vrabel still found a way to maximize the talent he was given, which is all the Bears will be asking him to do, as he will be one of the first coaches the Bears interview.
