Editor’s note: The bulk of this story was written on Nov. 12, when Thomas Brown was promoted to offensive coordinator, after Shane Waldron got fired. We’re re-racking it now that Brown has been named interim head coach, with a new intro reflecting the news on Nov. 29 that head coach Matt Eberflus has been fired. We just thought a refresher on his background might help.

Thomas Brown has received two huge promotions over the past few weeks. The Bears offensive passing game coordinator was promoted to offensive coordinator on Nov. 12 after Shane Waldron.

RELATED CONTENT:

• Matt Eberflus reportedly fired as Bears head coach
• How Thomas Brown accomplished goal to ‘alleviate stress on Bears offense
• ‘Fresh perspective’: What Thomas Brown brings to Bears offense desperate for better

The decision was a good one, with Brown re-activating the Bears offense over the past three games while getting quarterback Caleb Williams back on track. Players love him, and respect his directness and offensive innovation.

We’ve learned a lot about him from recent media interactions and all the praise Bears players have heaped upon him. But, in case you don’t know, here’s a refresher on Thomas Brown before he joined the Bears this season. As one last reminder, everything below was written on Nov. 12:

Brown spent some formative years of his coaching career with Sean McVay

While Brown spent his first nine seasons coaching in the college ranks, Brown spent some formative seasons with the Los Angeles Rams from 2020-22. He worked with running backs and tight ends, but was also the team’s assistant head coach over his last two seasons there.

He worked with Waldron in Los Angeles as well and has a firm grasp on the concepts on which the Bears system is based.

“Sean is the best communicator I’ve ever been around,” Brown said in a video feature aired on NFL Network. “To be here and see what an elite head coach looks like has been a blessing.”

Brown was also incredibly popular with the Rams as practice presence and technical coach.

“There’s no ego when he walks into a room, but he walks into a room with a purpose,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said in a profile on him from The Athletic in 2022. “I think that’s something we all feel when we see him and hear from him … You can’t fool the locker room. Been around people who have tried, and it doesn’t work.”

Brown tore his Achilles’ coaching with the Rams

Brown is an active coach to demonstrates how players should run plays and execute techniques, often at full speed. He was a safety on the scout team when it happened. He walked off the field without making a big commotion, but continued coaching the season.

“And then you flash forward just a couple of months later, this guy’s on the sideline chasing (Rams running back) Cam Akers on a long run,” McVay said via Panthers.com. “He springs down the sideline when he still should be in a walking boot.”

Brown was a star at Georgia, (briefly) an NFL running back

The University of Georgia alum was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He got hurt in his first preseason and landed on injured reserve with a completely torn muscle in his groin. The Falcons waived him the following year.

He joined the Cleveland Browns practice squad in 2009 and was activated later that year, but never played in a regular-season game. He was waived the following year and got into coaching after that.

He averaged 5.0 yards per carry during a stellar career at Georgia, with 2,646 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns over four seasons. He finished his Bulldog tenure as the program’s fifth-leading rusher.