Former South Carolina assistant tabbed as NFL interim head coach
Former South Carolina football assistant coach Thomas Brown is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Following the Friday firing of head coach Matt Eberflus, the Bears have named Brown the interim in Eberflus’ stead. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was one of many who reported the news.
Brown is moving up quickly in the Bears organization. Less than three weeks ago, he ascended to a new role with the team when he became interim offensive coordinator in place of the now-fired Shane Waldron. It is unclear if Brown is viewed as a realistic candidate to replace Eberflus (or Waldron) long-term. However, he is beloved by his players. NFL executives also view him as a potential head coach in the future. He will get his audition down the stretch of the 2024 season.
With the Bears, Brown is now the head coach for former Gamecock defensive tackle Zacch Pickens and former assistant coach Jon Hoke.
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Prior to his work in Chicago, Brown had spent the previous four years in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and the Carolina Panthers. He was the offensive coordinator in Carolina in 2023 and the assistant head coach in Los Angeles before that. Brown helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI. Before his promotion to offensive coordinator (and then head coach) with the Bears, he was the team’s passing game coordinator.
During his time with the South Carolina football program (just the 2019 season), Brown served as the running backs coach. Four different players in his position room earned their way to the NFL. Both Tavien Feaster and Deshaun Fenwick had brief stints in the league. Rico Dowdle (starting for the Dallas Cowboys) and Kevin Harris (with the New England Patriots) are still in the NFL.
