Bears Rumors: Thomas Brown Won't Be Retained by Ben Johnson amid Jets Buzz

As Ben Johnson begins assembling his coaching staff with the Chicago Bears, Thomas Brown won't be retained after serving in three different roles for the organization this season.

Per The Athletic's Adam Jahns, Brown is among five coaches from the 2024 Bears staff who won't be with the team under Johnson.

Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported Brown is a candidate to join Aaron Glenn's staff with the New York Jets.

Brown started last season as the passing game coordinator for head coach Matt Eberflus. He was promoted to offensive coordinator on Nov. 12 after Shane Waldron was fired due to that unit's struggles.

After losing six straight games that included a disastrous end-of-game time-management sequence against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, Eberflus was fired on Nov. 29. Brown was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

The Bears offense occasionally showed signs of life with Brown as interim head coach. Caleb Williams threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-17 loss to the Lions on Dec. 22.

It's not a surprise that Johnson would decide to move on from most of the coaches who were with the Bears in 2024. This is his first time as a head coach and he will want to assemble a staff of people he trusts.

Brown didn't seem like he would have much trouble finding another job, even before the rumors about Glenn being interested in him for the Jets. The 38-year-old has worked in the NFL since 2020 when he was hired as running backs coach for the Los Angeles Rams.

Before coming to the NFL, Brown spent nine seasons coaching in college from 2011 to '19. His highest-profile job was as offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Miami from 2016 to '18.

The Bears are getting a fresh start with Johnson, who comes from an offensive background, looking to make his mark by developing Williams into the player everyone in Chicago hopes he can become after being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.