If there’s one positive takeaway from the Bears’ past two weeks, it’s that Thomas Brown might genuinely be the right guy—at least for the rest of this season. Since Shane Waldron’s firing, Brown has stepped up as offensive coordinator and hasn’t looked back. He’s the complete opposite of not only Waldron but also current Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
Brown has demonstrated accountability in a short period, a stark contrast to Eberflus, who often doubles or even triples down when questioned about controversial decisions. While it’s still early, Brown seems to have a solid grasp of dealing with the media and commands respect in the Bears’ locker room. It’s no surprise his name appeared on recent list of up-and-coming NFL head coaching candidates, alongside names like Ben Johnson. Brown’s rise appears imminent.
During his weekly press conference, Brown shared a notable moment from his message to the team after a better offensive performance. It was a much-needed spark for a unit that had been stagnant for nearly a month, highlighting Brown’s growing impact on the team.
“There are no atta-boys in this game. We play the game to win, and we came up short.”
For the second week in a row, Thomas Brown has brought a noticeably different vibe and energy during his press conferences. However, my favorite moment wasn’t about any of those topics. Instead, it was when Brown spoke about tailoring his play calling to fit his players:
“It doesn’t matter what I’m comfortable with, I don’t play. I can always adapt and adjust.”
It’s clear that the players are buying into Brown. As for what this means for his future, it’s still too early to tell. However, the Bears should keep a close eye on the Brown over the final seven games. He could make a strong case to be the leader of the team moving forward and help develop rookie QB Caleb Williams into the player the Bears believe he can be. But for now, it’s time to focus on Minnesota.
