The Chicago Bears feel like a team in flux. Reports persist that team president Kevin Warren may wish to make some changes to the football operations this coming off-season. The extent of those changes is unknown. It could be as small as a quarterback change or a full house cleaning from top to bottom. Much could hinge on how the team finishes the final five games. However, rumors persist that the team brass may already have a good idea of what they will do once the regular season concludes.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic already indicated nobody is getting fired during the season. Those decisions will come in January. Warren will be the one making them. However, at least one source thinks a plan is already forming. NFL Notifications on Twitter is a somewhat controversial handle. It has no name attached to it, but many of its reports regarding league activity have proven accurate in the past year. That is why it was noteworthy when it posted a rumor that the Bears already have an idea of what they will do.
First will be firing Matt Eberflus and replacing him with an offensive head coach. Reportedly, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is the preferred option. Next is retaining quarterback Justin Fields and giving him more firepower in the draft.
Many think Fields hasn’t been the problem with this team. He’s done enough to help them win more games. The issue has been poor play calling on offense and conservative coaching from Eberflus. His defense surrendering three 4th quarter leads hasn’t helped. Johnson has emerged as one of the most prolific offensive minds in the league, reviving the career of Jared Goff and turning Detroit into a top-10 unit. He could bring the necessary expertise to get Fields pointed in the right direction. Throwing Marvin Harrison Jr. into the mix would be icing on the cake.
It is a popular strategy among former players, too. Many have said Fields deserves more time. Bring in more help and let him keep learning. He’s getting closer. While drafting a new quarterback does reset the contract clock, the Chicago Bears don’t have to pull the trigger yet. Fields has one more cheap year left on his rookie deal. If they don’t see a genuine future star in this 2024 draft class, then they can postpone the decision to 2025, stacking the roster in the meantime.
