Robert Griffin III suggests Lincoln Riley for Chicago Bears offensive coordinator

Should USC head football coach Lincoln Riley decide to make the transition to the NFL, Robert Griffin III has both the perfect spot and role in mind for the 41-year-old.

Griffin, speaking on the “Pardon My Take” podcast released Friday, Griffin said that the Chicago Bears (4-8) should hire Riley as the team’s offensive coordinator to work with quarterback and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Griffin likes Riley’s fit as the offensive play caller rather than as head coach: “I don’t believe that Lincoln would succeed in Chicago as the head coach.”

“For Lincoln Riley, it hasn’t worked out the way they wanted it to at USC,” Griffin said. “I don’t believe that Lincoln would succeed in Chicago as the head coach. But if he wanted to come to the NFL and be with the quarterback that he won a Heisman Trophy with, you make him the offensive coordinator. I don’t know if he would, he’s making a boat load of money at USC. Whoever is working with Caleb doesn’t need to be somebody that comes in and tries to change what he is. They need to know him.

“That was a big reason why I thought Caleb should want to go to Washington [in the 2024 NFL Draft] because he had Kliff [Kingsbury] there, who knew how he is. … So, I think Lincoln Riley — there’s something there bringing in him. Or a coordinator that Caleb worked with so they can help him continue to grow.”

Could Lincoln Riley, Caleb Williams reunite in NFL?

Riley, soon to wrap up his third season in Southern California, has ties to Williams dating back to his time at Oklahoma. Then head coach for the Sooners, Riley recruited Williams to Norman where the now 23-year-old played in 11 games as a freshman. After Riley took the job with the Trojans after the season, Williams followed and won the Heisman Trophy in 2022, throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Williams is one of three quarterbacks to have won the Heisman and then go on to be selected No. 1 overall who played under Riley (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray). Williams, 12 games into his NFL career, has had his share of ups and downs. He has thrown for 2,612 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions on 61.6% passing.

The Bears, who own the league’s No. 26 ranked offense, have already fired head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. There will be a new regime in 2025 — that’s not a question. Could Riley be on Chicago’s radar, though?

Well, for Starters, Riley is making a lot of money at USC. His contract is estimated at $10 million a year and he is three years into a 10-year deal. USC is a private institution, and the contract details are not publicly available. Does an offensive coordinator gig sound appealing at this point, even if the draw is working again with Williams?

Lincoln Riley comments on rumors linking him to UCF, other jobs

Only Riley knows the answer, though his main priority is getting the Trojans back on track. USC won 11 games in year one under Riley and eight last season, but fell to 6-6 in 2024. Riley is 25-14 at USC, but the win-loss record has regressed each season. While at Oklahoma from 2017-21, Riley went 55-10 and made it to the College Football Playoff three years in a row.

The Trojans have underperformed relative to expectations, and that could eventually lead Riley elsewhere. The Athletic reported Tuesday that UCF, who saw Gus Malzahn resign as head coach to become Florida State‘s offensive coordinator, has reached out to Riley’s representatives to gauge his interest in coming across the country to East Orlando.

Riley commented on Early Signing Day when asked about being linked to other jobs.

“I tell them I’m a USC Trojan,” Riley said Wednesday. “I’m at the place I want to be. It’s a non-starter, it’s a non-issue. That’s — I’m home.”