The Chicago Bears are preparing to search for their next head coach, and one of the team’s all-time greats, Olin Kreutz, has shared strong opinions on how the decision should be made.
Kreutz, who played center for 14 years in the NFL, spent 13 of those seasons with the Bears, earning six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2001 to 2006 and being named an All-Pro in his final two years. The last of those seasons saw Chicago make a Super Bowl run.
Since retiring after the 2011 season, Kreutz has been a vocal supporter of the Bears, often criticizing the team’s decisions and offering advice on how to restore the franchise to prominence. True to form, Kreutz made his thoughts clear on December 3 through a social media post addressed to Bears ownership and President Kevin Warren regarding the hiring of the next head coach.
“Dear Bears brass, get out of the way and let [general manager Ryan] Poles hire the next Bears coach,” Kreutz wrote on X. “No ‘collaboration.’ One guy making the decision. The ‘football’ guy. Thank you!”
Kreutz’s comments followed a press conference held by Warren and Poles the previous day, where they discussed the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus. The move came just hours after a devastating loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, which marked the Bears’ sixth straight defeat and a series of close losses punctuated by late-game errors by the coaching staff.
Warren emphasized that while Poles would continue as GM, the decision on the next head coach would not be solely in his hands.
“When you look at all of these elements as we sit here today, we are in a unique situation,” Warren explained. “This will be the most coveted job in the National Football League this year, and Ryan and I need to work hand-in-hand together to make sure we bring that to life, not only from a head coach standpoint but from an entire staff standpoint.”
In the meantime, former offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has stepped in as the Bears’ interim head coach, a role he is expected to hold for the remainder of the season. Brown, who began the year as the pass game coordinator, has earned respect from the players and developed a solid rapport with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. As the interim head coach, Brown will continue calling plays and could be considered for the permanent position if he performs well over the final five games of the season.
However, Brown and the Bears face a tough challenge, with their remaining opponents being the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, and Green Bay Packers—three of which will be played on the road. Combined, these teams have a 42-18 record, making the Bears’ remaining schedule one of the toughest in the NFL.
