Pete Carroll emerges as a Bears head coach candidate after Matt Eberflus' exit

The Chicago Bears will end the 2024 season looking for a new head coach. The team decided to fire head coach Matt Eberflus after their Week 13 loss, with Eberflus' lack of game management costing them a chance to upset the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving and creating animosity around the locker room.

Starting their search in December could give the Bears an advantage in identifying their main targets. Chicago is set to be one of the hottest openings for the 2024 coaching carousel, with a strong roster led by former first-round pick Caleb Williams becoming an attractive job.

Among the host of names who might want to join Chicago, insider Yogi Roth brought out an interesting possibility among the rumors: former New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who's still working in Seattle as an advisor.

"I know this. I know Pete Carroll wants to coach. This guy is a crazy competitor," Roth said.

"I don't know if that's the place or not, but I know that, since he finished coaching in Seattle, he has not stopped competing. I mean, I talked to him, he's still coaching me up on being a better husband, being a better father, being a better minority owner in the Paris Musketeers, his energy to coaching is still there. So who knows how that shakes out with another bunch of other openings"

When Carroll left the Seahawks' head coaching job after the 2023 season, many around the league expected him to retire from the sidelines, as he was 72 at the time. He's a proven coach at all levels of football, but this would still be an unorthodox hire by the Bears.

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Which names could be on the Chicago Bears' list?

NFL analysts and insiders are pointing out three main possibilities to keep an eye on for the next two months.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will be the number-one target for many franchises. He has done a fantastic job elevating their offense around Jared Goff, and the league has shifted its preferences for young head coaches with a strong offensive pedigree. Johnson checks both boxes.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is another name to watch. Not only has he done a good job with Jayden Daniels during his rookie year, but he was also one of Caleb Williams' coaches at USC.

Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has also been named as a possibility.