Next Bears Head Coach: McCarthy, Carroll, and Johnson Lead The Pack

The Chicago Bears and GM Ryan Poles are hunting for their next head coach to develop their young QB Caleb Williams. Poles spoke to the media this past Tuesday and said no stone would be left unturned as they cast a wide net during their interviewing process.

When it comes to the traits of a new Bears head coach, Poles said they are looking for “clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good game management, and a plan to develop a quarterback is going to be a key part of that as well.”

Who Are The Bears Considering For Head Coach?

While the Bears head coach interview pool seems to be growing by the day, it’s more important to consider what the next head coach will inherit to understand who is best suited for the job.

The Bears’ next head coach will inherit a young quarterback who showed flashes of brilliance but requires refinement in key areas, particularly in blitz recognition and early-game performance.

Williams’ development was hampered by protection issues, evidenced by 68 sacks (tied for third-most since 1963), and inconsistent offensive coordination that saw multiple play-callers throughout the 2024 season.

Let’s look deeper at the candidates for the next Bears head coach for the 2025 NFL season.

Pete Carroll

Age: 73
Coaching Style: Defensive mind focused on positive reinforcement, individual growth, and risk-taking
Previous NFL Teams: Bills, Vikings, Jets, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks

The fit with the Bears presents significant complexities. While Carroll’s experience developing Russell Wilson and his belief in mobile quarterbacks could benefit Caleb Williams’ development, his historical emphasis on run-first offense and his previous connection to Shane Waldron (who struggled with Williams) raise concerns.

At 73, questions about long-term sustainability exist, though his energy and adaptability have remained consistent hallmarks of his career. His defensive expertise, particularly the Seattle Cover 3 scheme, while historically successful, may not align with the Bears’ primary need for offensive innovation and quarterback development.

The decision would largely depend on whether Carroll could assemble an offensive staff that could maximize Williams’ talents while avoiding the issues that led to Waldron’s dismissal.

Mike Kafka

Age: 37
Coaching Style: Analytical offense adaptable to various defensive schemes with strong player development
Previous NFL Teams: Chiefs, Giants

Mike Kafka brings experience as both a former NFL quarterback and coach, with notable connections to Chicago as a Northwestern standout. His coaching journey includes valuable time with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he worked directly with Patrick Mahomes during the quarterback’s early development, contributing to four Pro Bowl seasons and a Super Bowl victory. His relationship with Bears GM Ryan Poles dates back to their shared time in Kansas City, potentially offering valuable organizational alignment.

The concerns with Kafka stem from his recent tenure as the Giants offensive coordinator, where the unit has struggled significantly, ranking among the league’s worst in both yards and scoring. While these statistics require context – he wasn’t the primary play-caller and worked with limited quarterback talent – they still raise questions about his readiness for a head coaching position.

Though his experience with Mahomes suggests an ability to develop elite quarterback talent, his recent track record with the Giants’ offense and lack of play-calling experience make him a riskier choice for a Bears team focused on developing Caleb Williams. The decision would largely hinge on whether his success with Mahomes better indicates his potential than his struggles in New York.

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Drew Petzing

Age: 37
Coaching Style: Run-first offense utilizing diverse personnel and strategically placed O-line
Previous NFL Teams: Vikings, Browns, Cardinals

Petzing’s fit for the next Bears head coach presents both opportunities and challenges. His experience developing Kyler Murray and his proven ability to improve offensive efficiency would be valuable for Caleb Williams’ development.

However, his offensive system, which emphasizes pocket passing and traditional play-action concepts, may require significant adaptation to match Williams’ more mobile, improvisational style. While Petzing’s track record with developing offensive linemen could help address the Bears’ protection issues (68 sacks allowed in 2023), the schematic mismatch between his preferred offensive style and Williams’ current skillset raises questions about the potential learning curve for both coach and quarterback.

Ben Johnson

Age: 38
Coaching Style: Meticulous, unpredictable offense meant to keep defenses off-balance
Previous NFL Teams: Dolphins, Lions

Ben Johnson has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier offensive innovators through his work as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. Under his leadership, Detroit has consistently ranked among the league’s top offenses, finishing 2023 with the NFL’s highest-scoring offense (33.2 points per game) and second-best total offense (409.5 yards per game).

His system demonstrates versatility and balance, producing top-10 rankings in both passing and rushing while developing multiple Pro Bowl players across different positions.

Johnson would address many of the Bears’ current offensive challenges, particularly his proven ability to sequence plays and adapt his system to maximize talent. His track record of developing young players and building comprehensive offensive packages could benefit Caleb Williams, especially given Williams’ struggles with sacks and early-game performance.

However, his rising profile as a top coaching candidate may create competition for his services, and his limited experience as a head coach could present a learning curve in managing an entire organization. The similarity between his offensive philosophy and Ryan Poles’ vision suggests strong potential for organizational alignment, while his continuous innovation and attention to detail directly address the Bears’ needs for offensive stability and quarterback development.

Aaron Glenn

Age: 52
Coaching Style: Defensive, leadership mind centered on building team culture
Previous NFL Teams: Browns, Saints, Lions

Aaron Glenn’s rise has been marked by his exceptional leadership qualities and diverse NFL experience, from his playing career as a defensive back to roles in scouting and coaching. Under his guidance, the Lions’ defense has evolved from one of the league’s worst units to a more balanced complement to their high-powered offense, showing particular success in developing secondary talents like Kerby Joseph and Terrion Arnold. His background in scouting provides valuable perspective on team building and talent evaluation.

The primary concerns with Glenn’s candidacy for the Bears center on his limited track record of defensive success, with 2024 being his first year leading a truly elite unit. More significantly for the Bears’ situation, his defensive background creates the common challenge faced by defensive head coaches: maintaining offensive continuity.

While Glenn’s leadership qualities are well-documented, the Bears’ focus on developing Caleb Williams would require him to hire and retain strong offensive coordinators, risking potential staff turnover if those coordinators succeed and receive head coaching opportunities elsewhere.

Anthony Weaver

Age: 44
Coaching Style: Collaborative defensive coaching with an emphasis on player connection
Previous NFL Teams: Jets, Bills, Browns, Texans, Ravens, Dolphins

Anthony Weaver has built his coaching reputation on developing elite defensive line talent, demonstrated by his work with six Pro Bowl players including J.J. Watt and Justin Madubuike. His coaching philosophy has evolved from his early days running aggressive, blitz-heavy schemes influenced by Rex Ryan to a more sophisticated approach incorporating pre-snap disguise and simulated pressures, as shown in his recent work with the Ravens. Weaver brings a valuable perspective as a former NFL defensive lineman combined with diverse coaching experience across multiple successful defensive systems.

Weaver’s fit for the next Bears head coach position presents challenges similar to those of other defensive-minded candidates, particularly regarding offensive staff development for Caleb Williams. While Weaver’s one season as Houston’s defensive coordinator in 2020 showed significant struggles, context is important given the talent limitations of that roster. His relative youth at 44 and limited coordinator experience make him a riskier choice for a team needing immediate offensive stability.

However, his track record of maximizing defensive line talent could help address the Bears’ pass protection issues from the defensive side of the ball, though this would be a secondary consideration given the primary need for offensive development.

Ron Rivera

Age: 63
Coaching Style: Accountability-heavy and defensive-minded coach favoring zone coverage/four-man rushing
Previous NFL Teams: Bears, Eagles, Chargers, Commanders

Ron Rivera’s connection to the Bears runs deep, spanning his playing career as a linebacker (1984-1992), his successful tenure as defensive coordinator (2004-2006), and his participation in the storied 1985 championship team.

As a head coach, Rivera has demonstrated leadership ability with two NFL Coach of the Year awards (2013, 2015) and success developing a number-one overall pick in Cam Newton, who won MVP under his guidance in 2015. His track record includes leading both Carolina and Washington to playoff appearances, and he’s maintained a strong reputation for player relations and organizational stability.

The primary concern with Rivera centers on his defensive background at a time when the Bears’ priority is developing quarterback Caleb Williams. While Rivera could potentially follow the Dan Campbell model of hiring a strong offensive coordinator, his defensive scheme has shown limited evolution over the years, typically featuring conservative four-man rushes and zone coverage concepts.

His connection to Bears’ history and understanding of the franchise culture could be viewed as either a strength or a limitation, depending on whether the organization prioritizes tradition or seeks a more modern offensive approach. Rivera’s experience with Newton suggests he can oversee quarterback development, but his recent teams in Washington struggled to establish consistent offensive success.

Mike McCarthy

Age: 61
Coaching Style: Strategic, precise offensive mind with strong quarterback development experience
Previous NFL Teams: Chiefs, Packers, Saints, 49ers, Cowboys

Mike McCarthy brings significant experience developing elite quarterbacks and orchestrating successful offenses, demonstrated through his work with Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, and Dak Prescott. As head coach of the Cowboys from 2020-2024, he compiled a 49-35 record with three consecutive 12-win seasons from 2021-2023, though postseason success proved elusive with only one playoff victory during that span.

Before Dallas, he led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl victory and consistent playoff appearances while helping develop Rodgers into a future Hall of Famer.

For the Bears, McCarthy presents an intriguing combination of proven quarterback development and offensive system implementation. His success with both pocket passers and mobile quarterbacks could benefit Caleb Williams’ development, while his experience managing high-expectation franchises suits Chicago’s market.

However, his teams’ recent playoff struggles and the Cowboys’ decline in 2024 (7-10 record) raise questions about his ability to maintain long-term success.

*Note: “Previous NFL Teams” experience lists coaching experience and does not account for experience as a player or non-coaching position.

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