Former Panthers OC Thomas Brown Takes Over as Bears Interim HC

The Chicago Bears have named former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown as their interim head coach, the team announced Monday.

Background

Brown, 56, joined the Panthers in 2020 as running backs coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021. He previously served as offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019 to 2020.

Brown’s Mission

The Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus on Sunday after the team’s 5-8 start to the season. Brown will now be tasked with leading the Bears through the final four games of the regular season.

“Thomas is a highly respected coach with a proven track record of success,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement. “We are confident that he can provide the leadership and direction we need to finish the season strong.”

Outlook

Brown’s immediate goal will be to stabilize the Bears’ offense, which ranks 28th in the NFL in scoring. The Bears have also struggled to protect quarterback Justin Fields, who has been sacked 50 times this season.

“We need to get better at executing our game plan and protecting our quarterback,” Brown said. “We also need to find ways to generate more explosive plays.”

The Bears will face a tough test in their first game under Brown, as they visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Eagles are 10-1 this season and are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.