The Chicago Bears are doing “serious homework” on Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to potentially take over as their next head coach, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Russini also wrote that Weaver would likely be a candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars if Doug Pederson is fired from his head coaching position after Week 18.
Weaver, 44, is in his first season with Miami after spending most of the last decade with the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. After brief coaching stints with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns, Weaver spent five seasons coaching the Texans’ defensive line and served as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2020.
The former NFL defensive end then spent three seasons as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator in Baltimore.
With the Dolphins, Weaver has coached a unit that ranks third in the NFL in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed. That’s especially impressive considering the team has been without pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips for almost the entire year and ranks 27th in the NFL in sacks.
The Bears fired Matt Eberflus in November after a 4-8 start to the season. Chicago has since slumped to 4-12 and is last in the NFL in offensive yardage.
In addition to Weaver, Russini reported the Bears are keeping an eye on former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for their head coaching vacancy. She did note that Weaver is garnering the most interest of the group, though.
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