It hasn’t taken Thomas Brown long to prove that he can command a room.
Conducting team meetings during his first week as Bears interim head coach, the 38-year-old has impressed players with his leadership ability and communication skills.
“He’s very deliberate on how he talks to us,” said left guard Teven Jenkins. “Everything he’s telling us right now is very intentful, and all of us are very locked in. Everybody is sitting at the front of their seat, leaning in. You can see when somebody’s actually attentive, and you can see that everybody in the whole team room is very bought in to what he’s been saying.”
“I feel like he’s done a good job since the start of the week just setting his expectations for what he wants to get done,” added linebacker T.J. Edwards. “Being a man of action and getting right to the point and making sure we’re all on the same page with what we’re trying to do … I feel like he’s done a great job of keeping everyone organized and keeping his message clear.”
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After Brown was named interim head coach last Friday, he reached out to players over the weekend before the team reconvened Monday at Halas Hall.
“I had the chance to set the tone in the first team meeting on Monday, and that went over well,” Brown said. “Normally we have a little music playing before the meeting starts, and when it cut off, everybody looked at me. I do appreciate that because I want to maximize their time and be efficient with their time.
“I try to bring energy every single day. I am a very direct person. I try to be engaging in front of the group, not entertaining. I don’t care about entertaining them, but delivering the message, being clear and concise, [and] also collaborating with the entire staff and our players as well.”
As Brown helps the Bears prepare for Sunday’s game in San Francisco, players have noticed a different vibe at Halas Hall.
“One of the most important things is accountability,” said quarterback Caleb Williams. “He’s done a solid job so far with that and holding me accountable, holding all the guys accountable. That’s just how he is. He’s a lead-by-example type of guy and that’s been great.”
Defensive end DeMarcus Walker appreciates Brown’s approach.
“We love his energy and his demeanor and attitude he brings for us as a team,” Walker said. “He doesn’t sugarcoat. He’s definitely able to call some things out and be able to be honest. That’s grown men in this profession. That’s what you need. You don’t need to beat around the bush. You have to be very transparent.”
Brown has altered how the Bears prepare for games.
“I feel like there’s been big changes to our emphasis in how we attack every day on Wednesdays now and it’s about getting back to who we are as a team and trying to eliminate what happened these past few weeks,” Jenkins said. “Even what ‘TB’ was saying, we have a talented team, but you get your skillset every day and you work on it. Everybody has talent in the NFL; it’s about what you do with your skills. That’s one thing we’ve got to attack.”
Brown was hired by the Bears Jan. 30 as passing game coordinator. He was elevated to play caller Nov. 12 and interim head coach Nov. 29.
“My goal has always been the same from Day 1 as far as being in a leadership position,” Brown said. “My goal is to make people and situations better. So being consistent every single day with my message, being deliberate, finding ways to challenge the group but also uplift them because I do believe in them.
“I told them a minute ago after practice there is no confidence loss at all as far as what I think about them. I don’t care what anybody else thinks about them. I think we have a very talented football team. It’s about just putting the work in every single day to give us an opportunity to win.”
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