The 2022 NFL season will come to an abrupt end for the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 8. And with the conclusion of the regular season for all teams in the Bears' situation comes the annual head coaching carousel.
The Bears won't be on that ride this off-season. Despite their 3-8 record, Matt Eberflus has made a positive impression in Chicago and will be around for at least a couple of years before his seat gets warm.
The same can't be said for offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, whose name is hot for all the right reasons. He's quickly become a popular pick to be one of this offseason's most sought-after head coach candidates following the breakout of QB Justin Fields, who's thriving under Getsy's tutelage.
Getsy's become such a popular head coach candidate that he was listed by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero as one of the league's top assistants to watch in the upcoming coaching cycle.
A productive college quarterback at Akron who went to camp with the 49ers in 2007 before going into coaching, Getsy formed a close relationship as a young Packers assistant with Aaron Rodgers, who later campaigned to bring back Getsy as quarterbacks coach in 2019. Getsy is now in his first year on Matt Eberflus' staff in Chicago, overseeing a breakout season for young QB Justin Fields. The Bears have found ways to be productive in spite of their personnel shortcomings amidst a rebuild, and just as important, they're building a culture on offense. The Broncos interviewed Getsy last year and came away impressed.
Tom Pelissero, NFL.com
The NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league, though. And in Week 11, Getsy's gameplan against the Atlanta Falcons -- one that put Fields in harm's way after he injured his shoulder late in the fourth quarter -- will take a while to scrub from his resume.
Still, there's no denying the job Getsy's done with Fields and an underwhelming supporting cast has been one of the best coaching accomplishments of 2022.
“He’s very intelligent, works well with the players," Eberflus said of Getsy last week. "He’s very flexible. He’s fun to be around. It’s a joy to come to work with him every day. He takes command of a room, which is also something you need. He’s honest and he’s loyal. He, to me, is a definite big-time candidate."
Eberflus recounted what it was like to be an assistant in demand but said Getsy has the mental makeup required to stay on task with the Bears for the rest of 2022.
“This happened to me for four years," Eberflus said. "I understand the whole business of it. Every coordinator in the league wants to be a head coach. I also know this about Luke, his feet are where his feet are. He’s focused on the job at hand, and that’s what makes him a special guy.”
If Getsy leaves Chicago for a head coaching job in 2023, it'll mark the third-straight season with a new offensive coordinator for Fields.