NFL Exec: Bears HC Thomas Brown 'the Real Deal' amid Kingsbury, Ben Johnson Buzz

One NFL front office executive called Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown "the real deal" in comments made to ESPN's Courtney Cronin amid her recent piece on the team's firing of ex-head coach Matt Eberflus.

Brown will also be considered for the team's full-time head coaching position, per Cronin, who added that the Bears hope to speak with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury as well.

"Two team sources told ESPN that Brown will be considered among the candidates in January as the Bears begin their coaching search. Other names the Bears hope to interview include Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, the latter of whom interviewed for the Bears' offensive coordinator opening before the team hired Waldron."

The 38-year-old Brown coached college ball (primarily as a running backs coach) from 2011-2019 before moving to the NFL as the Los Angeles Rams' running backs coach in 2020. He earned an assistant head coach title in 2021, when the Rams won the Super Bowl.

Brown moved to coaching tight ends in 2022 before leaving the team to become the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator in 2023 under head coach Frank Reich. Brown also worked with No. 1 overall draft pick, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

Carolina struggled offensively in 2023, scoring 13.9 points per game (second-lowest mark in the NFL). Reich was fired after 11 games, and the Panthers finished 2-15.

After the season, Brown landed with the Bears as their passing game coordinator. He was promoted to offensive coordinator after the firing of OC Shane Waldron and has been in that role for the past three games.

The offense has certainly fared better of late, with the Bears averaging 22.0 points per game during a stretch that included matchups against their trio of NFC North rivals in the 9-3 Green Bay Packers, 10-2 Minnesota Vikings and 11-1 Detroit Lions.

And now Brown is the Bears' interim head coach after Chicago's 4-8 start and ongoing six-game losing streak, which has seen the team drop its last three games by a combined seven points. Brown will also continue to call plays.

The final five games certainly serve as a great dress rehearsal for Brown in a bid to be the full-time head coach. It'll be a challenging slate down the stretch, with the Bears notably facing the three other NFC North teams again.

Up first, though, is a visit to the reeling and shorthanded 5-7 San Francisco 49ers, losers of three straight. Kickoff is set for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.