Patriots reportedly interview Bears’ interim head coach Thomas Brown for vacant offensive coordinator role
Brown is New England’s first reported offensive coordinator interview of the offseason.
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Mike Vrabel and the Patriots are officially on the hunt for their offensive coordinator.
New England reportedly interviewed the Chicago Bears’ interim head coach Thomas Brown on Tuesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He is the team’s first reported OC interview.
Brown experienced an unprecedented rise through the Bears’ coaching staff this past season. He began the year as Chicago’s pass game coordinator before being named offensive coordinator on Nov. 12 following Shane Waldron’s firing. Two-and-a-half weeks later, Brown became the team’s interim head coach after they fired Matt Eberflus.
The 38-year-old Brown coached the Bears to a 1-4 record to finish the season. Chicago also conducted an interview with Brown for their own head coaching vacancy earlier this week.
During his first press conference as the Bears’ interim HC, Brown offered some memorable quotes about how he planned to attack his role.
“Life isn’t guaranteed. This game isn’t guaranteed. It’s a privilege to be here, so I want us to maximize it every single day in the building,” Brown said. “And when we have an opportunity to excel on game day, go cut it loose, man. Play with no fear.”
Brown also commented on how he intended to coach his players off the field.
“I talked about making sure the house is right from the beginning. The initial goal is to unify this football team. Naturally what happens is when you don’t have success, there’s division. There’s outside noise,” he said. “The importance of controlling your thoughts and having self-talk. There’s tons of negativity outside these walls.”
Prior to joining the Bears last January, Brown was the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator under Frank Reich in 2023. Brown was given play-calling duties from Reich, with then-rookie quarterback Bryce Young starting for the Panthers, after the team began the season 0-6. Carolina finished the year 2-15.
Brown also held various roles with the Los Angeles Rams from 2020-22 such as assistant head coach under Sean McVay, running backs coach, and tight ends coach.
The Patriots and Brown are not strangers. New England reportedly interviewed Brown for its offensive coordinator position last January. The Patriots ultimately hired Alex Van Pelt on Feb. 1.
Earlier this week, Vrabel offered insight into New England’s OC search. The Patriots’ new head coach said there’s a “long list” of candidates and that the interview and hiring process could take “weeks.”
“It’s a long process. It’s one that, you know, will go out a few weeks, Vrabel said on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show.” “It could go out longer than that, right? It’s always delicate when you have teams that are continuing to play in the playoffs, potentially the movement that could occur with coaches on other staffs and related to their contracts.”
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