Monitoring the candidates in the Bears’ wide-ranging head-coaching search:
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
Standing: The Bears interviewed him virtually Jan. 11.
Background: Johnson is the most popular assistant coach candidate within the league after serving to to show the Lions right into a juggernaut. The Lions have completed within the high 5 within the NFL in factors and yards in every of the primary full seasons he’s been their play-caller. Johnson stated final month he was extra ready to leap to a head teaching job than he was in recent times, when he backed out of interviews with a view to keep in Detroit. Johnson is intrigued by quarterback Caleb Williams — and the feeling is mutual.
Former Titans coach Mike Vrabel
Standing: The Bears interviewed Vrabel on Jan. 8; he was named Patriots head coach Jan. 12.
Background: Vrabel went 54-45 in six seasons with the Titans, going to 5 playoff video games earlier than being fired on the finish of the 2023 season in an influence wrestle along with his common supervisor. Vrabel performed for the Chiefs when Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles was a low-level entrance workplace worker there. Vrabel is broadly thought-about the favourite for the Patriots’ opening.
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
Standing: The Bears interviewed him Jan. 11.
Background: Glenn was a NFL cornerback from 1994-2008 earlier than changing into a personnel scout with the Jets from 2012-13 and a defensive backs coach for the Browns and Saints from 20014-20. He’s been the Lions’ defensive coordinator since 2021 and is beloved for his fiery character. Glenn praised Williams final month, calling him “very resilient” and saying he was unfairly criticized.
“[Quarterbacks] get beat down a lot that folks actually don’t see the issues they undergo to be a high participant — particularly a No. 1 decide,” he stated.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy
Standing: The Bears requested an interview, however had been rebuffed by the Cowboys. His contract expires Jan. 14.
Backgound: McCarthy gained Tremendous Bowl XLV because the Packers head coach and is the third-winningest energetic head coach within the NFL. He’s spent the previous 5 seasons because the Cowboys’ head coach however his future may be very a lot nonetheless up within the air. His mixture of play-calling and head teaching expertise would enchantment to the Bears.
Former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll
Standing: The Bears interviewed him Jan. 9.
Background: Carroll is without doubt one of the most achieved soccer coaches strolling the planet, having reached the playoffs in 10 of 13 seasons with the Seahawks. He’s one in all three head coaches ever to win a NCAA nationwide championship and a Tremendous Bowl — alongside Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson. He has a 170-120 report all-time as an NFL head coach.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
Standing: The Bears can interview him nearly after the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Background: Flores has turned the Vikings’ blitzing protection into one of many most-feared within the NFL and is keen to return to go teaching. He went 24-25 in 4 years because the Dolphins head coach however publicly feuded with younger quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a truth that would give the Bears pause they usually search somebody to pair with Williams. Flores went to Boston Faculty with Poles and shares mutual Vikings acquaintances with Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren, who used to work in Minnesota.
Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury
Standing: The Bears can interview him nearly after the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Background: He and Jayden Daniels have been a match made in heaven this 12 months, with Kingsbury designing an offense to suit the quarterback’s skillset and propel him towards Offensive Rookie of the 12 months. He has head teaching expertise, too, going 28-37-1 in 4 seasons with the Cardinals. Kingsbury spent 2023 as a USC assistant and helped put together Williams for the NFL. Williams has praised him when given the possibility this season.
Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver
Standing: The Bears interviewed him nearly Jan. 9.
Background: Weaver was the Ravens’ defensive position coach and assistant head coach for 2 years earlier than shifting to Miami to name the Dolphins’ protection in 2024. He’s thought-about an up-and-coming coach, however the Dolphins’ outcomes had been barely higher than that of the Bears. They gave up 21.4 factors per recreation, the Bears 21.8. Weaver interviewed with the Saints on Wednesday.
Payments offensive coordinator Joe Brady
Standing: The Bears can interview him nearly after the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Background: At simply 35, Brady has regained wunderkind standing in main quarterback Josh Allen to MVP dialog and the Payments to the No. 2 seed within the AFC playoffs. Brady referred to as the best faculty passing offense of all-time at LSU in 2019, with Joe Burrow underneath middle, earlier than flopping with the Panthers. Allen and Burrow would offer nice templates for Williams. Brady interviewed for the Bears’ quarterbacks coach job when Matt Eberflus was employed however went to Buffalo as an alternative.
Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown
Standing: The Bears have stated they are going to interview Brown.
Background: Brown held three completely different jobs for the Bears this season, beginning because the pass-game coordinator — and occasional scout-team nickel cornerback throughout follow — earlier than being promoted to offensive coordinator after which interim head coach. Williams improved after Brown took over for Shane Waldron however took a step again as soon as Brown assumed head-coaching obligations. The Bears went 1-4 with Brown in cost, beating the rival Packers, shedding to the Seahawks by three and enjoying three video games that weren’t notably aggressive. Brown was the Panthers’ offensive coordinator for a part of 2023 however has lower than a 12 months’s value of NFL play caller expertise between final season and this. The Seahawks plan to interview him for his or her vacant offensive coordinator job.
Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka
Standing: The Bears interviewed him Jan. 9.
Background: Kafka is a St. Rita and Northwestern alum who served as Patrick Mahomes’ quarterbacks coach in 5 seasons with the Chiefs. (He was changed by Matt Nagy). Kafka labored with Poles in Kansas Metropolis however isn’t thought-about more likely to get the job.
Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing
Standing: The Bears interviewed him Jan. 8.
Background: In his first 12 months because the Cardinals’ play-caller, Petzing led the Cardinals to 23.6 factors per recreation, which ranked twelfth within the NFL. The 37-year-old labored for the Vikings whereas Warren was there. Like Kafka, he’s a longshot candidate.
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith
Standing: The Bears can interview him nearly after the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Background: Smith helped to develop an honest Steelers offense — they completed sixteenth in scoring this season — with Justin Fields after which Russell Wilson underneath middle. He went 21-30 in three seasons because the Falcons’ head coach after spending two seasons as Vrabel’s offensive coordinator. He’s by no means been given a blue-chip quarterback and it’s value questioning what his plan for Williams would appear to be.
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken
Standing: The Bears can interview him nearly after the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Background: Monken simply completed his second season because the Ravens’ offensive coordinator, the place he completed third within the league in scoring, first in dashing yards and seventh in passing yards. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is among the many favorites to win MVP. He was the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator from 2016-18 and the Browns’ in 2019. He gained two nationwide championships at Georgia earlier than becoming a member of the Ravens in 2023. Monken is from Wheaton.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell
Standing: The Bears can interview him any time.
Background: A league supply confirmed the Bears’ curiosity in Campbell on Wednesday. Campbell is quietly one of the crucial profitable faculty coaches, going 35-15 at Toledo from 2011-15 and 64-51 in 9 years in the past Iowa State. The Cyclones went 11-3 and beat Miami within the Pop Tarts Bowl this 12 months. He’s flirted with the NFL earlier than and was truly a favourite to get the Lions job that went to Dan Campbell (no relation). Poles stated Tuesday their candidate checklist would come with a shock or two, and Campbell qualifies. Nonetheless, he’d should persuade the Bears he was worthy of creating the soar from faculty to the professionals, one thing that traditionally has confirmed troublesome. Additionally: would the Bears actually rent somebody recent off the Pop Tarts Bowl?
Former Stanford coach David Shaw
Standing: The Bears can interview him any time.
Background: Shaw resigned as the pinnacle coach at his alma mater in 2022 after 12 years. At 96-54, he was essentially the most profitable coach in Stanford historical past. He helped to develop Andrew Luck into one of the crucial promising quarterback prospects of his era. Shaw was named a Broncos senior personnel govt in June, rejoining the NFL for the primary time since he was the Ravens’ receivers coach in 2005. Shaw is a longshot candidate.
Former Panthers, Commanders coach Ron Rivera
Standing: The Bears are anticipated to interview him Sunday.
Background: Rivera performed for the Bears from 1984-92, successful Tremendous Bowl XX, was a Bears assistant from 1997-98 and the workforce’s defensive coordinator from 2004-06. Rivera, who turned 63 earlier this week, is 102-103-2 as an NFL head coach. He was named Coach of the 12 months twice, together with in 2015 when the Panthers went 15-1 and quarterback Cam Newton gained the MVP. The Panthers misplaced Tremendous Bowl 50 to the Broncos. He went 13 video games over .500 with the Panthers from 2011-19 and 14 video games underneath .500 with the Commanders from 2020-23. He hasn’t posted a successful season since 2017.
Normal supervisor Ryan Poles employed Cunningham as assistant common supervisor when he took the job in 2022.
Johnson is the sixth candidate to interview for the Bears’ head-coaching emptiness.
