On Black Friday, the Chicago Bears preempted Black Monday by firing head coach Matt Eberflus, a decision many saw as overdue. The move came after another late-game mismanagement on Thanksgiving, where Eberflus’s errors cost the Bears a chance to secure a win in regulation—the second such incident in less than two weeks.
Eberflus’s dismissal for coaching mistakes that actively hindered his team could resonate with Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans, who are closely watching the future of Todd Bowles. With Bowles already on the hot seat in the eyes of many, the Buccaneers’ performance over their final six games will likely play a significant role in determining his fate.
Another storyline for Buccaneers fans to monitor is how Matt Eberflus’s firing could affect the future of Liam Coen. The architect of Tampa Bay’s offense has already seen his coaching stock rise significantly, but now one of the most intriguing potential opportunities—the Chicago Bears head coaching position—has become available.
With Coen potentially drawing interest as a head coaching candidate, this development might increase the urgency for the Buccaneers to solidify their plans for his future. Whether Tampa Bay can retain him or if he takes the next step in his career elsewhere could shape the team’s trajectory moving forward.
Liam Coen is a perfect candidate for Bears to hire after firing Matt Eberflus
Liam Coen may not be the only candidate for the Chicago Bears’ head coaching job, but he’s certainly one of the most compelling. As the team likely prepares to draft Caleb Williams and develop him into a franchise cornerstone, Coen checks nearly every box they should be looking for in a coach. His ability to elevate an offense has been on full display in Tampa Bay this season, making him a prime target for teams searching for an offensive-minded leader.
While Dave Canales deserves credit for revitalizing Baker Mayfield’s career last year, Coen has taken Tampa Bay’s offense to new heights. Under his leadership, the Buccaneers have become a Top 5 scoring offense with one of the most balanced attacks in the league. Mayfield is playing at an MVP level and turning in arguably the best season of his career, which is a direct testament to Coen’s influence.
Coen’s appeal isn’t limited to his work with Baker. Despite losing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injuries, Tampa Bay’s offense barely missed a beat. Coen effectively schemed around those losses, with the Bucs’ scoring average dropping only slightly. Even more impressively, he fixed Tampa Bay’s long-struggling run game. After finishing as the league’s worst rushing attack the past two seasons, Coen has turned the backfield trio of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker into a Top 10 rushing unit. The team now ranks fourth in the NFL with a 5.0 yards-per-carry average—an extraordinary turnaround.
These accomplishments make Coen an ideal candidate for the Bears. His ability to transform a run game and develop offensive talent would pair perfectly with Caleb Williams, giving Chicago a chance to finally compete at the level of the NFC North’s best teams. While Ben Johnson is likely the most coveted offensive mind this offseason, Coen is an excellent fallback option if Chicago can’t land Johnson.
For Buccaneers fans, the prospect of losing Coen is concerning, especially with the Bears’ vacancy creating more interest. However, there are other high-profile candidates out there, including Mike Vrabel and even Bill Belichick, who could be lured into reshaping one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises.
Still, it increasingly seems like Tampa Bay could face yet another one-and-done scenario with its offensive coordinator, a tough pill to swallow considering the impact Coen has had on the team’s success this season.
