Bears' Kevin Warren declares head coaching job most sought after in NFL

In Lake Forest, Illinois, the Chicago Bears held a press conference on December 2, 2024, following the historic firing of their head coach, Matt Eberflus. This moment marks the first in-season head coach firing in the franchise's history, which occurred less than 24 hours after a narrow three-point loss to the Detroit Lions. During this loss, Eberflus faced substantial criticism, particularly for his clock management decisions, contributing to the team’s disappointing record of 4-8 for the season and 14-32 over his tenure spanning two-plus years. Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren addressed the media alongside general manager Ryan Poles, emphasizing their commitment to finding a suitable replacement for Eberflus. Warren highlighted that Poles would be the main figure overseeing the head coaching search. He expressed confidence in Poles’ ability and work ethic, asserting that the search would be motivated by the best interest of the Bears franchise. Warren touted the job opening as potentially the most desirable in the National Football League this season, outlining the appealing qualities of leading the Bears. He emphasized the strength of the team's young and talented roster and pointed to quarterback Caleb Williams' promising potential. Warren's sanguine outlook suggests that the Bears' head coaching position could attract top talent in the league, amid ongoing searches by other teams like the Jets and Saints. The goal is to focus on the remaining five games of the current season while searching for a new head coach. In the interim, the Bears have named Thomas Brown, previously the offensive coordinator, as acting head coach. Brown committed himself to ensuring that the team remains focused on the upcoming challenges and maintaining productivity for the rest of the season. The collective mindset from Warren, Poles, and Brown is centered on making decisions that benefit the football team moving forward, hence laying the foundation for a successful coaching search.