After Matt Eberflus firing, why one name should be at top of Bears' head-coaching wish list

Following quarterback Caleb Williams' second-down sack with 36 seconds remaining, Eberflus declined to take his final time out, and the Bears ran 30 seconds off the clock before snapping the ball with six seconds left.

Williams' deep pass intended for rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze fell incomplete as time expired.

Chicago announced it had fired Eberflus a day after the epic meltdown, but anyone watching on Thursday knew Eberflus' days were numbered following that disastrous sequence.

What's just as clear is what the Bears should do next. While two former Williams coaches are already being floated as potential candidates for the Bears' next head coach, here's why another likely contender must be at the top of their list.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson

It might be hard for the Bears to convince Johnson to leave Detroit for a division rival, but they should pull out all the stops to get Johnson to Chicago.

The Lions have the top-ranked scoring offense (31.9 points per game) and are second in total offense (395.2 yards per game). In Johnson's three seasons as offensive coordinator, Detroit has finished in the top five in both categories each year.

Johnson rejected Carolina's overtures the past two offseasons and also withdrew from consideration for jobs in Houston, Indianapolis, Washington and Seattle.

"I wanted the sunshine a little bit longer," Johnson said, explaining his decision to stay in Detroit.

"I like what we've built here ... We have a great group of guys in the locker room and I want to reap the rewards with them a little bit longer," he added.

If Johnson ultimately lands in Chicago, he might develop a Vitamin D deficiency.

The Bears have been historically awful offensively, never producing a 4,000-yard passing season in franchise history.

That's precisely why they need Johnson. He's the best offensive-minded coach due for a promotion.

Hiring Johnson is almost as much of a no-brainer as calling a timeout with the clock approaching zero in a three-point game in opponent territory. Too soon?

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury

Kingsbury received a first-hand look at Chicago's starting quarterback while working as an offensive analyst at USC in 2023.

NCAA rules prohibited Kingsbury from coaching Williams, but he acted as an advisor of sorts for the future No. 1 overall pick in April's 2024 NFL Draft.

"Talking about football, talking about experiences that he's had as a head coach, offensive coordinator, things like that at the pro level is what I got from him," Williams said of Kingsbury in October, per ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

Kingsbury reached the playoffs once in four seasons as Cardinals head coach (2019-22). He was fired following the 2022 season after going 4-13, less than a year after signing a long-term extension.

His reputation has rebounded in Washington with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, although the team's recent three-game losing streak recalls a troubling trend from Kingsbury-coached offenses. Most start strong before fading during the season's second half.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley

Riley recruited Williams out of high school while Oklahoma's head coach and convinced him to follow him to USC in 2022.

Riley's track record with quarterbacks is unimpeachable, but that might be his only value in Chicago.

Despite being gifted with several talented quarterbacks, including Williams, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield, Riley's teams at Oklahoma and USC were routinely outclassed in big games, including multiple College Football Playoff semifinal losses while at Oklahoma. His USC defenses were abysmal enough to keep Williams out of the CFP entirely.

Developing Williams must be the priority, but Riley's and Kingsbury's potential as candidates makes us wonder: At what cost?