Head coach Sean McVay knows a thing or two about grooming excellent assistants into future head coaches themselves. He has groomed five eventual head coaches since taking over the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. Two of them, Matt Lafleur and Kevin O’Connell, are currently battling for the NFC North title. So it seems rather fitting another McVay disciple has completed an unlikely rise to the top spot with the Chicago Bears. Thomas Brown joined the Rams as running backs coach in 2020. He was quickly promoted to assistant head coach when they won the Super Bowl the next year.
That success earned him the offensive coordinator job in Carolina. Unfortunately, that only lasted a year before the staff was fired. It looked like it would happen to him again as things fell apart in Chicago, but things were different. Brown rallied the offense after taking over for Shane Waldron, turning around rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. In three games together, the #1 pick has five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 99.2 passer rating. When McVay heard about Matt Eberflus’ firing and Brown’s promotion to head coach, he couldn’t hide his excitement.
“He has always been a guy that has had incredible command. He’s been a great competitor. He kind of demands respect from people he’s around just by the way that he carries himself. Anytime these things come up – and I think Thomas did a great job of handling it when he got the opportunity to be the OC, he’s done a great job obviously – but it’s unique in (the manner in) which the circumstances have come about. But he’s going to attack it. I think guys will follow his lead. In this profession, you just have such an appreciation for how challenging it is, how difficult, how volatile. And I think he’s going to do a great job. I would imagine, if he hasn’t already done a press conference in such a classy way, that he would handle it…
…But he is a guy that – guys have heard me talk about him. We got a chance to work together for a few years, but I (also) got a chance to compete against him. There are certain people, when you watch (them) you’re like, ‘man, they’re a little different’ in terms of the competitiveness, the spirit, the never-say-die attitude. And then just his overall presence in general is impressive.”
Buzz had been building around Brown as a future head coach for the past couple of years. His natural charisma and presence were impossible to ignore. Many have compared it to a young Mike Tomlin. The Bears may have stumbled into the ideal situation if that is anywhere close to accurate. Brown has five games left to state his case for the job. If he can lead this team to a few wins, it will show he has the ability to finish games, which had been the constant issue with Eberflus.
It would be rather fitting. Whenever the Bears have found a quality head coach, it always seems to come after a stumble. They hired Mike Ditka in 1982 when George Halas went over GM Jim Finks’ head. Lovie Smith wasn’t Jerry Angelo’s first choice, but the organization wasn’t willing to pay Nick Saban’s price tag. How appropriate would it be if they found their next mainstay after making their first midseason firing in franchise history? Sean McVay thinks this move is destined for success. All the Bears have to do is let Brown do his thing.
