(670 The Score) A defensive-minded head coach, Matt Eberflus understands the importance of the hire he makes to be the Bears' new offensive coordinator.
Eberflus is entering a critical third season on the job, one in which the Bears are aiming to emerge as a contender while developing a young quarterback into a franchise arm. Following the firing of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and four other members of his coaching staff at season's end, Eberflus needs to find the right fit to oversee his offense and its prized quarterback.
"I think that it's important to gather the information, but also taking our time to be able to digest that and make a great decision," Eberflus said. "So, we'll do that."
In the eight days since Getsy was dismissed, the Bears have targeted nine known candidates for interviews.
Eberflus has eyed candidates from the Mike Shannahan tree – believing that the outsize zone running scheme is the most difficult to defend – with interviews for Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, 49ers offensive passing game specialist Klint Kubiak, Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, Seahawks quarterbacks coach Greg Olson and Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Eagles assistant Marcus Brady, whom Eberflus worked alongside with the Colts in 2021, was also tabbed for an interview.
The Bears have set interviews with former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, whose run-heavy scheme helped Lamar Jackson become the NFL MVP in 2019, and former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who once worked alongside Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech and was the USC quarterbacks coach this past season.
Roman would seem to be a hire best-suited for quarterback Justin Fields, whose future with the Bears is uncertain. Kingsbury could potentially be a hire best-suited for projected No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy-winning USC quarterback whom he worked alongside last season.
In talking with Roman, the Bears surely wanted to know how he could maximize Fields' dual-threat abilities as well as how he'd build a balanced offense. He resigned from his job with the Ravens after the 2022 season after failing to ignite Baltimore's passing game. Kingsbury, who was 28-37-1 over four seasons leading the Cardinals, can offer Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles intel for potentially selecting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. But he's also a proven offensive mind who could fit with Fields, should the Bears elect to keep him as quarterback.
Eberflus downplayed the notion that his next offensive coordinator has to fit a player like Fields or Williams, viewing that as putting the cart before the horse in the franchise-altering decision at quarterback.
"You want to have somebody that's a great teacher," Eberflus said. "I think that's important because you know he has to coach the coaches to coach the position. And I think that's the No. 1 trait of any great coach. You have to be able to have the innovation to really look at the players that you have and be able to help enhance and put those guys in position to succeed and to get explosives and to move the ball down the field."
The Bears have fulfilled the NFL's Rooney Rule in their offensive coordinator search by interviewing at least one minority candidate, meaning they can complete a hire at any point.
Now it's up to Eberflus to determine what he values most in the next leader for his Bears offense.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
