Category: Offseason

Bears to interview Colts DC Matt Eberflus for head coach job on Monday

Colts DC Matt Eberflus will interview with the Bears for their vacant head coach job on Monday.

The Chicago Bears are in the middle of their search for their next head coach and general manager after firing Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace earlier this week. And there’s been quite a diverse group of candidates that they’ve requested to interview.

The expectation, according to Dan Pompei, is that the Bears cast a wide net of candidates for a first round of video interviews. For those candidates who stand out, they’ll be invited back for an in-person interview.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears are interviewing Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus for their head coach vacancy on Monday.

Eberflus has been coaching in the NFL since 2009, where he served as linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns (2009-10) and Dallas Cowboys (2011-17) before becoming the Colts defensive coordinator in 2018. Eberflus interviewed for head coaching jobs with the New York Jets and Houston Texans last year, and he left an impression on Houston.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]

Bears interviewing Jeff Ireland for GM job on Friday

Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland will interview with the Bears for their GM job on Friday.

The Chicago Bears are in the middle of their search for their next head coach and general manager after firing Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace earlier this week. And there’s been quite a diverse group of candidates that they’ve requested to interview.

The expectation, according to Dan Pompei, is that the Bears cast a wide net of candidates for a first round of video interviews. For those candidates who stand out, they’ll be invited back for an in-person interview.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears will interview Saints VP and assistant GM Jeff Ireland on Friday.

Ireland has ties to the Bears organization, as he served as a ball boy for the team at 12 years old when his grandfather Jim Parmer was a Bears scout. But as far as experience, Ireland has worked in the Saints’ personnel department since 2017. The Saints are an organization that Chicago would certainly like to replicate, and Ireland has been part of New Orleans’ success. Ireland has also served as the Dolphins GM from 2008-13 after seven seasons with the Cowboys, which included a stint as VP of college and pro scouting.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]

Dan Graziano reveals early favorites for Bears head coach job

Dan Graziano says there are 3 candidates emerging as early favorites in the Bears head coach search. And they all have something in common.

The Chicago Bears are in the middle of their search for a new head coach after firing Matt Nagy earlier this week.

They’ve lined up a slew of coaching candidates ranging from offensive to defensive guys to former head coaches. But it’s interesting to note that, among the three favorites mentioned by ESPN’s Dan Graziano, there’s a similarity between them: they’re defensive-minded coaches.

According to Graziano, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier have emerged as early favorites in Chicago’s coaching search.

Although, Graziano is quick to note that “early favorites don’t always end up getting the jobs.”

The Bears appear to be conducting their general manager and coach searches concurrently, which will allow them to identify candidates they like for each spot and figure out which of them pair best together. Coachwise, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is the name I’ve heard most strongly connected with this job in the early going, although I think Todd Bowles and Brian Flores will get serious looks as well. And early favorites don’t always end up getting the jobs.

If the Bears do pick Frazier or Bowles or Flores or another defensive-background coach (which is totally fine, of course, if you believe in the guy as a leader), the big question that will follow is whom they’re bringing with them for offensive coordinator to shepherd the development of Justin Fields.

Bears Chairman George McCaskey, who is leading the search for head coach, said he’s not looking specifically for an offensive or defensive guy. They’re looking for the best leader among them.

But it certainly seems like he’s leaning in a defensive direction, at least early, with Flores, Bowles and Frazier. If that’s the case, the biggest thing will be assembling their coaching staff, particularly on offense. While the Bears might not be looking for an offensive guru as head coach, there needs to be the right staff in place to develop quarterback Justin Fields.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview or has interviewed:

[listicle id=494445]

Bears complete interviews with Glenn Cook, Doug Pederson

The Bears conducted interviews with GM candidate Glenn Cook and HC candidate Doug Pederson on Wednesday.

The Chicago Bears are int he middle of their searches for a new general manager and head coach following the firings of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy earlier this week.

Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Ted Phillips and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian will be conducting the GM search for the Bears.

They have completed their first interviews of this process, interviewing Cleveland Browns assistant director of pro scouting Glenn Cook for their GM job and former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson on Wednesday.

Cook served as the Browns’ Assistant Director of Pro Scouting from 2016-19 before being promoted to VP of Player Personnel. Cook also spent time with the Green Bay Packers as a pro scout from 2012-15.

Pederson served as the Eagles’ head coach from 2016-20, where he led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl. He also worked under Andy Reid as offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs (2013-15) and quarterbacks coach with the Eagles (2011-12).

The Bears have cast a wide net of candidates for both GM and head coach. Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates Chicago has requested to interview or has interviewed:

[listicle id=494445]

Bears request to interview 49ers’ Ran Carthon for GM job

The Bears are looking to interview 49ers director of player personnel Ran Carthon for their GM vacancy.

The Chicago Bears fired general manager Ryan Pace on Monday, which finds Chicago searching for their next GM.

Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Ted Phillips and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian will be conducting the GM search for the Bears, where they’ve already started lining up interviews.

According to SI’s Albert Breer, the Bears have requested to interview San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel Ran Carthon for their GM vacancy.

Carthon, who’s dream has been to land the role of GM with an NFL team, started his career as a pro scout with the Falcons from 2008-11. He later joined the Rams as director of player personnel (2012-16) before assuming the role of director of pro personnel with the 49ers (2017-Present). Carthon manages the pro scouting department, does advance scouting and helps the team make acquisitions.

The Bears have also requested interviews with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown, Steelers VP Omar Khan, Browns VP of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen and former Texas GM Rick Smith among others.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]

Bears interviewing Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett on Saturday

Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett will interview with the Bears for their head coach job on Saturday.

The Chicago Bears are in the middle of their search for their next head coach and general manager after firing Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace earlier this week. And there’s been quite a diverse group of candidates that they’ve requested to interview.

The expectation, according to Dan Pompei, is that the Bears cast a wide net of candidates for a first round of video interviews. For those candidates who stand out, they’ll be invited back for an in-person interview.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will interview with the Bears on Saturday, as the Packers are on a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Hackett has served as the offensive coordinator for the Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. He’s been with Green Bay as offensive coordinator since 2019, where he’s helped lead the Packers’ high-powered offense. Having worked with Aaron Rodgers, he’s someone who could be good for quarterback Justin Fields.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]

Bears request interview with Patriots’ Eliot Wolf for GM vacancy

The Bears are looking to interview Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf for their GM vacancy.

The Chicago Bears fired general manager Ryan Pace on Monday, which finds Chicago searching for their next GM.

Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Ted Phillips and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian will be conducting the GM search for the Bears, where they’ve already started lining up interviews.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears have requested an interview with New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf for their vacant GM job.

Wolf spent his first 13 years with the Packers. He started as a pro personnel assistant in 2004 and climbed his way to director of football operations in 2016. He left Green Bay to serve as the Browns assistant GM (2018-19) and currently serves as director of scouting with New England. The Patriots reorganized their front office this year, and Wolf is believed to be a big part of that.

Of all of the GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview, there’s none who want to beat the Packers more than Wolf, who was denied a request to interview with the Detroit Lions for their GM position in 2016.

The Bears have also requested interviews with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown, Steelers VP Omar Khan, Browns VP of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen and Browns VP of Player Personnel Glenn Cook.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]

Report: Bears showing interest in former Texans GM Rick Smith

The Bears are interested in interviewing former Texans GM Rick Smith for their GM vacancy. And it sounds like the interest is mutual.

The Chicago Bears wasted no time delving into their general manager and head coach searches following the firings of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy on Monday.

Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Ted Phillips and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian will be conducting the GM search for the Bears, where they’ve already started lining up interviews.

According to the Chicago Tribune‘s Dan Wiederer, the Bears want to interview former Houston Texans GM Rick Smith for their GM vacancy. And according to Wiederer, “the interest is mutual.”

Smith took an expansion franchise and turned them into a playoff contender. Smith served as the Texans GM from 2006-2017 before stepping away to be with his wife, who was battling breast cancer. Houston hired a new GM and things went downhill for the franchise at that point. Smith has been out of the game for four years, and he could be looking for another opportunity.

The Bears have also requested interviews with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown, Steelers VP Omar Khan, Browns VP of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen and Browns VP of Player Personnel Glenn Cook.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]

Bears request interview with Steelers’ Omar Khan for GM job

The Bears are looking to interview Steelers VP Omar Khan for their GM vacancy.

The Chicago Bears fired general manager Ryan Pace on Monday, which finds Chicago searching for their next GM.

Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Ted Phillips and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian will be conducting the GM search for the Bears, where they’ve already started lining up interviews.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears have requested an interview with Pittsburgh Steelers VP of Football and Business Administration Omar Khan for their vacant GM job.

Khan has been with Pittsburgh since 2001, where he served as football administration coordinator. He was promoted to director of football administration in 2011 before landing his current role in 2016. Before joining the Steelers, Khan worked with the New Orleans Saints from 1997-2001. But there are reports that Steelers GM Kevin Colbert is expected to step down, and Khan would certainly be the favorite to succeed him.

The Bears have also requested interviews with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown, Browns VP of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen and Browns VP of Player Personnel Glenn Cook.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]

Bears request interview with Bills’ Joe Schoen for GM vacancy

The Bears requested to interview Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, who’s a trusted voice in Buffalo’s front office.

The Chicago Bears fired general manager Ryan Pace on Monday, which finds Chicago searching for their next GM.

Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Ted Phillips and Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian will be conducting the GM search for the Bears, where they’ve already started lining up interviews.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears have requested an interview with Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Joe Schoen for their GM vacancy.

Chicago has now inquired about three members of the Bills — Schoen, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

Schoen currently serves as GM Brandon Beane’s assistant in Buffalo. Schoen got his start with the Carolina Panthers, where he interned and later served as a scouting assistant in 2001. He served as the Miami Dolphins assistant director of college scouting before being promoted to director of player personnel (2014-17). Schoen spent his first five years with Miami as one of the team’s national scouts.

The Bears have also requested interviews with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown, Browns VP of Football Operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Browns VP of Player Personnel Glenn Cook.

Here’s a look at the complete list of head coach and GM candidates the Bears have requested to interview:

[listicle id=494445]