Sean McVay Gives Bears Interim Coach, Ex-Rams Assistant Thomas Brown Glowing Review

Chicago fans will be happy to hear what the Los Angeles coach said.
Sean McVay during the Rams' 28–22 win over the Patriots on Nov. 17, 2024.
Sean McVay during the Rams' 28–22 win over the Patriots on Nov. 17, 2024. / Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears fans may be wondering what they have in Thomas Brown, their new interim coach. Here, after all, is a man who has rocketed through the coaching ranks in a short period of time—from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator to interim boss in a matter of weeks.

On Friday, however, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay demystified Brown a little bit in the wake of the Bears' dismissal of coach Matt Eberflus. Brown worked under McVay from 2020 to '22, and the two played high school football against each other in Georgia.

"He has always been a guy that has had incredible command. He's been a great competitor," McVay said via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. "He's going to attack it. I think guys will follow his lead... I think he's going to do a great job."

Brown played from 2004 to '07 for Georgia as a running back before a gradual rise through the coaching ranks. In 2021, as an assistant head coach and running backs coach, he won a Super Bowl under McVay.

"He commands respect by the way he handles himself—and he gives it back," McVay said. "I have always thought that he was a guy who would be a head coach at some point... I'm happy for him for the opportunity."


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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .