When the Chicago Bears selected Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick in April’s draft after his stellar career with the Washington Huskies, general manager Ryan Poles expected the 2023 Consensus All-American to form a dynamic combination with the top pick in the draft would. Quarterback Caleb Williams.

While the two have shown exciting upward trends, with Odunze ranking second on the team in receiving yards (701), third in receptions (51) and fourth in touchdowns (3), the Bears have struggled. Part of that comes from playing in the toughest division in football, where the NFC North has three playoff teams, but Chicago’s coaching staff hasn’t done its young, promising squad any favors.

The 4-11 Bears have fired head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, and thanks to Williams, Odunze and this young roster, it will be the most coveted job in the NFL coaching carousel. According to recent reports, the two biggest names on the market are interested in the Bears’ offer.

Pete Carroll

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the longtime Seattle Seahawks coach and father of Huskies offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll is intrigued by the job.

His defense-oriented philosophy would help former Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon establish himself as one of the NFL’s best defensive backs, but he would need to appoint a top-notch offensive coordinator to help shape the franchise’s future.

Ben Johnson

Instead of having Carroll look for an offensive coordinator, the Bears could look for the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator instead. Johnson has become the most sought-after coach on the market in recent seasons, but he has been very patient with his first head coaching position.

“From what I understand, Johnson is interested in the Bears job and he will be willing to listen,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said over the weekend. “There’s a lot to like in Chicago with Caleb Williams, tons of cap space, additional draft resources. Plus, it’s a big market and they’re expected to break ground on a new stadium next year.”

Either hire would be beneficial to the organization, as it cannot afford to make another hire like Eberflus, who went 14-32 in his tenure after drafting several strong building blocks.