Familiarizing Ourselves with Potential Chicago Bears Offensive Coordinator Contender: Marcus Brady

**Who is Marcus Brady?**
Marcus Brady, aged 44, has shared a coaching background with Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus, as they both served on the coaching staff of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2021 under then-head coach Frank Reich. Initially, Brady held the position of assistant quarterback's coach before being promoted to quarterback's coach in 2019. In 2021, he assumed the role of offensive coordinator when Nick Sirianni took over as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. After being released a week prior to Reich in 2022, Brady joined the Eagles as a consultant before becoming a senior offensive assistant in 2023.

During his first year as offensive coordinator in Indianapolis, the Colts boasted one of the NFL's top rushing offenses. They ranked second in the league in rushing yards per game (149.4) and yards per carry (5.1) while also tying for the fifth-highest number of rushing touchdowns (22). Jonathan Taylor, their running back, received Associated Press first-team All-Pro honors and earned his first Pro Bowl selection after leading the league in rushing yards (1,811) and touchdowns (18).

In 2020, Brady served as the quarterbacks coach for Indianapolis, and Philip Rivers recorded the eighth-best completion percentage (68.0 percent) and the tenth-highest passing yards (4,169) in the NFL.

Furthermore, in 2018, Brady worked as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Colts, collaborating with Andrew Luck. That year, Luck was named the AP's NFL Comeback Player of the Year and earned Pro Bowl recognition after ranking second in passing touchdowns (39) and fifth in passing yards (4,593) in the league.

Brady also has experience working with former Bears head coach Marc Trestman, as he served as the offensive coordinator of the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 under Trestman, with the team ultimately winning the Grey Cup that season.

Potential Fit:

Similar to the assessment made for Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, Marcus Brady may not be an ideal fit for the role of offensive coordinator, at least based on his previous NFL experience. While he has worked with Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis, his track record as an NFL offensive coordinator raises concerns. In 2021, the Colts excelled in rushing but ranked 28th in passing yardage. In 2022, they ranked 23rd in rushing and 20th in passing.

Despite his success on the ground in 2021, Brady's tenure as an NFL offensive coordinator leaves room for improvement.

My Two Cents:

Beyond his connection with Matt Eberflus, there are few indicators that suggest Marcus Brady is a strong candidate to lead the Bears' offense. His track record as an NFL offensive coordinator is less than stellar, and much of his coaching experience comes from the Canadian Football League (CFL), which may trigger unsettling memories of the Marc Trestman era for Bears fans.

However, it's worth noting that Brady has worked with several intriguing quarterbacks during his time in the league, including Jalen Hurts, Philip Rivers, and Andrew Luck. Although the extent of his influence on their success is uncertain, his interactions with these quarterbacks make him an interesting candidate for discussion. The Bears will also need to fill other coaching positions within their offensive staff, making these conversations vital, even if they appear inconclusive at first glance.