Skip to content
GO TO bet365 Sports
Chicago Bears - Soldier Field
  1. NFL

Chicago Bears Next Head Coach Odds: Ben Johnson favored

The Chicago Bears elected to retain head coach Matt Eberflus after a 7-10 record in the 2023 season, but a 5-12 record in 2024 led the team to fire him after the season.

Bears fans and NFL experts expected Chicago to battle for a playoff spot under rookie QB and 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams, but the team regressed in most metrics as Williams took the most sacks (68) of any QB in the regular season.

Perhaps even worse from Chicago's standpoint was the fact the team finished last in yards gained and that other rookie QBs, notably Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, had better seasons than the No. 1 pick.

Now that Eberflus has been relieved of his duties, who will take over to lead the development of Williams and the team surrounding him?

Here, we'll take a look at the latest odds to be the next Chicago Bears head coach.

Chicago Bears Next Permanent Head Coach Odds

Ben Johnson

+180

Mike McCarthy

+250

Pete Carroll

+350

Brian Flores

+550

Todd Monken

+1100

Kliff Kingsbury

+1200

Aaron Glenn

+2000

Marcus Freeman

+2000

Mike Kafka

+2500

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is the +180 favorite to be the next Chicago Bears head coach, down slightly from +200 when the market opened. He and the Bears have already completed an interview.

Johnson has been a key figure in the resurgence of the Lions and QB Jared Goff, but the Lions lost to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Detroit led the league in points in the 2024 regular season under Johnson, but the questions are whether he feels Chicago is on the right track, if the franchise would let him call plays, and if he would want to leave Detroit for an NFC North rival.

Mike McCarthy, who most recently coached the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 through 2024, is second in the market at +250, and his odds shortened after opening at +350. He started off with a 6-10 record in Dallas, went 12-5 for three straight seasons with only one playoff win, and went 7-10 this past season as the Cowboys battled injuries.

McCarthy is a coaching free agent after he and Cowboys GM Jerry Jones couldn't agree on a new deal. Back in 2010, McCarthy won the NFL Championship as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The Bears have already had an interview with him.

Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and current Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores are next in the odds at +350 and +550, respectively.

The Bears have already interviewed Carroll, who won the NFL Championship with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013. The franchise has also interviewed Flores, who led Minny's defense to allow the fifth-fewest points in the 2024 NFL regular season.

Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken is a slightly distant fifth in the market at +1100. The Ravens ranked third in points scored and first in yards gained under Monken this season, and he has already interviewed with Chicago.

Commanders OC and noted QB whisperer Kliff Kingsbury is next at +1200, and the former Arizona Cardinals head coach has played an instrumental role in QB Jayden Daniels' phenomenal rookie season. Kingsbury has helped lead his team to the NFC Championship, but he has reportedly passed on interview opportunities amid his team's playoff run.

Further back in the odds, from 20/1 to 40/1, are Lions DC Aaron Glenn, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, New York Giants OC Mike Kafka, Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady, Pittsburgh Steelers OC Arthur Smith, Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, Miami Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Denver Broncos director of player personnel David Shaw, Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Liam Coen, and Bears OC/interim head coach Thomas Brown.

Read the latest NFL news on site.

Odds available in select states. Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.

Related Articles

bet365 uses cookies

We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalized service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy

New to bet365? Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets Join Now

Deposit required. Bonus Bet winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.