Thomas Brown’s Chances with the Bears Based on Interim History

Bears fans are unfamiliar with this concept of an interim coach.

It’s easy to see why when they went 104 years before firing a coach mid-season. It doesn’t happen often, but there’s no real reason for anyone to expect that the interim agreement will be read and lead the team to a winning streak or a playoff series.

If the Bears can get a few wins or, more importantly, some good development in quarterback Caleb Williams while Thomas Brown is their head coach, then they should look to the future and not worry too much about him as a future head coach.

Since the Matt Nagy Bears regime began in 2018, in addition to the Bears, 16 teams have fired their head coach during the regular season. The only interim coach to lead his team to the playoffs was current Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia when he was the Raiders special teams coordinator.

They went 7-5 after Jon Gruden was fired. The thing is, Gruden didn’t have such a bad team. He did something bad and got an axe. Gruden was 3-2 after the Bears, led by Khalil Mack, beat his team in Las Vegas and then were fired.

In all other cases, the team played poorly, fired the head coach, and the interim came to the finish line, sometimes with several victories, sometimes not. Jeff Ulbrich took over this year after the Jets fired Robert Saleh. Saleh’s team started 2-3. Ulbrich has one win and five losses.

Saints coach Dennis Allen was fired with a 2-7 record and Darren Rizzi is currently 2-0.

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In almost all cases, the interim coach did not remain as head coach. When they did this, the buyer felt remorse.

The Raiders retained Antonio Pierce after he went 5-4 as the interim starter behind Josh McDaniels (3-5) last year, and the Raiders are 2-9 in 2024 under Pierce.

In a very small number of cases they should have maintained the temporary regime. Steve Wilks replaced Matt Rhule (1-4) in Carolina in 2022 and led the Panthers to a 6-6 record. They passed on him and brought in Frank Reich, who was fired in his first year after a 1–10 record.

What can be said is that since 2018, none of the interim coaches who finished the season have had much success as a head coach.

Raheem Morris is the closest and has a career record of 20 games below .500, but he keeps getting hired.

Temporary trainers

Fired coaches/interim coaches since 2018

2024

Jets: Robert Saleh (2-3) / Jeff Ulbrich (1-5)

Saints: Dennis Allen (2-7) / Darren Rizzi (2-0)

2023

Raiders: Josh McDaniels (3-5) / Antonio Pierce (5-4)

Chargers: Brandon Staley (5-9) / Giff Smith (0-3)

Panthers: Frank Reich (1-10) / Chris Tabor (1-5)

2022

Colts: Frank Reich (3-5-1) / Jeff Saturday (1-7)

Broncos: Nathaniel Hackett (4-11) / Jerry Rosburg (1-1)

2021

Panthers: Matt Rhule (1-4) / Steve Wilkes (6-6)

Raiders: Jon Gruden (3-2) / Rich Bisaccia (7-5*)

2020

Texans: Bill O’Brien (0–4) / Romeo Crennel (4–8)

Lions: Matt Patricia (4-7) / Darrell Bevell (1-4)

Falcons: Dan Quinn (0-5) / Raheem Morris (4-7)

2019

Washington: Jay Gruden (0-5) / Bill Callahan (3-8)

Panthers: Ron Rivera (5-7) / Perry Fewell (0-4)

2018

Browns: Hue Jackson (2-5-1) / Gregg Williams (5-3)

Packers: Mike McCarthy (4-7-1) / Joe Philbin (2-2)

*Progressed to the playoffs

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