After a disappointing 5-12 season, including 10 straight losses and the firing of coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, the Chicago Bears are looking to hire their next head coach.
General manager Ryan Poles mentioned that the search committee he is leading will talk to a variety of coaches from different backgrounds. The candidates will have interviews with a six-person panel that includes Chairman George McCaskey, President/CEO Kevin Warren, Poles, director of football administration Matt Feinstein, senior director of player personnel Jeff King, and chief human resources officer Liz Geist.
“We’re turning every stone to make sure we’re doing this the right way,” Poles said. “We’re going to move with urgency, but we’re not going to rush the process. Again, because we want it to be a sound process.”
Wednesday The Bears interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Smith finished his first season with the Steelers, working with quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers had a 10-8 record, losing 28-14 to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs.
They ranked in the middle of the league in both points and yards per game. Smith was also head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for three years, with a record of 21-30. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, helping the team’s offense become a top-five unit in 2020.
Smith, 42, is an experienced candidate with a 16-year NFL coaching career but has had mixed results as a coach.
Tuesday The Bears interviewed David Shaw, senior personnel executive with the Denver Broncos. Shaw has been with the Broncos since June, working under general manager George Paton to help evaluate both college and pro talent. Before joining the Broncos, Shaw was the head coach at Stanford for 12 years, leading the team to 96 wins and eight straight bowl games at the start of his tenure.
Shaw was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year four times, including in 2011 when he coached star quarterback Andrew Luck. Shaw is seen as a long shot to get the Bears job.
The Bears are expected to continue interviews with former Cowboys and Packers coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday. McCarthy’s interview will likely be in person.
Monday The Bears interviewed interim coach Thomas Brown. Brown had a challenging role when he became the Bears’ interim head coach in November after the firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus. Brown had previously been the passing game coordinator, then offensive coordinator, and finally interim head coach.
Under his leadership, the Bears went 1-4, with their only win coming in the season finale against the Green Bay Packers. Despite the tough circumstances, the Bears gave Brown an interview, where he shared his vision for the team and how he would approach things differently with a full season as head coach.
Brown was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023 and had previously been an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Rams.
Mike McCarthy Leaves the Dallas Cowboys Mike McCarthy’s contract with the Cowboys was set to end on Tuesday, and the two sides couldn’t agree on a contract extension. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones later confirmed that McCarthy would not return, stating that the decision was mutual. “I have great respect for Mike, and he has led the team through some very unique and challenging times during his tenure,” Jones said.
The Bears had asked to interview McCarthy last week, but the Cowboys denied the request. Now McCarthy is free to speak with any team he wants. McCarthy had been with the Cowboys for five years, making three playoff appearances. Before joining the Cowboys, he coached the Green Bay Packers for 13 years, leading them to nine playoff appearances and one Super Bowl victory.
Sunday
The Bears interviewed longtime NFL coach Ron Rivera.
Rivera has spent 13 years as an NFL head coach — nine with the Carolina Panthers and the last four with the Washington Commanders through 2023. His career record is 102-103, but he hasn’t had a winning season since 2017 with the Panthers.
He previously worked as the Bears’ defensive coordinator from 2004-06 and was also the San Diego Chargers’ coordinator for three seasons. Rivera, a former linebacker, played for the Bears for nine years and won a Super Bowl with the 1985 team.
New England Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as their new coach
Four days after having a virtual interview with the Bears, Vrabel reunited with the New England Patriots, the team he played for during his career. He spent eight seasons with the Patriots and won three Super Bowls.
Vrabel’s return to New England was expected. This move filled one of six head coaching jobs available in the league, leaving the Bears, Saints, Jets, Raiders, and Jaguars with remaining vacancies.
Vrabel was one of the top choices for the Patriots, who were also seriously considering Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson had a virtual interview with the Bears on Saturday. The Patriots had also interviewed Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich but quickly hired Vrabel less than a week after firing Jerod Mayo as head coach.
The Bears will continue their interviews this week, moving forward with a list of 18 known candidates for the position.
Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham completed a virtual interview for the Tennessee Titans GM job
Cunningham is back in the running for the Titans GM role, a position he was a finalist for two years ago. The Titans hired Ran Carthon in 2023 instead.
Bears GM Ryan Poles mentioned last week that he would allow Cunningham to explore career opportunities this month. Cunningham’s interview was part of the first round of interviews conducted by the Titans. Other candidates for the job include Thomas Dimitroff, John Spytek, Ed Dodds, Reggie McKenzie, Matt Berry, and Mike Borgonzi.
Other GM jobs are open with the Jets and Raiders. If Cunningham is hired by another team, the Bears would receive a third-round compensatory pick for the 2024 draft and another third-round pick in the 2026 draft, under the NFL’s Rooney Rule hiring regulations.
Saturday
The Bears interviewed Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Glenn is in his fourth season as the Lions’ defensive coordinator and has 11 years of experience as an NFL coach, having also worked with the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns. The Lions’ defense ranks seventh in the league, allowing 20.1 points per game, and they lead the league in third-down percentage at 32.4%.
As with all defensive-minded candidates, the Bears will need to hear Glenn’s plans for assembling his offensive staff and how he would help quarterback Caleb Williams succeed.
Bears interviewed Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
Johnson is one of the top candidates for head coach after leading the Lions offense to the top of the league with 33.2 points per game and second in yards per game with 409.5 this season. He has been the Lions’ offensive coordinator since 2022 and has played a big role in the team’s success, helping them become the NFC’s No. 1 seed in this year’s playoffs under coach Dan Campbell.
The Bears needed to learn about Johnson’s leadership style and how he works with quarterbacks, including how he would fit with quarterback Caleb Williams as they consider him for the head coach position.
Thursday
Bears interviewed New York Giants assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka
Kafka, a St. Rita and Northwestern graduate, was previously with the Kansas City Chiefs when GM Ryan Poles worked there. Kafka spent five years with the Chiefs, including four as the quarterbacks coach for Patrick Mahomes. He was also the passing game coordinator for the last two years.
Kafka, 37, has been with the Giants for three years. This season, the Giants’ offense struggled, ranking 30th in yards per game and 31st in points per game, with three different starting quarterbacks.
Bears interviewed former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll
Carroll, 73, has an impressive career, with accomplishments that the Bears have only dreamed of in recent years. In 14 seasons with the Seahawks (2010-2023), he led the team to 10 playoff appearances, two Super Bowls, and a Super Bowl XLVIII win in the 2013 season.
Carroll has been successful in helping both young and experienced quarterbacks, but he would need a strong offensive coordinator to help guide quarterback Caleb Williams. Carroll and the Seahawks parted ways after last season following a three-year stretch with a 25-26 record and one playoff berth.
Bears interviewed Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver
Weaver, 44, was the third candidate to have a virtual meeting with the Bears. He just finished his first season with the Dolphins, helping make their defense one of the top 10 in the league, allowing an average of 314.4 yards and 21.3 points per game.
Weaver uses a 3-4 defensive system with the Dolphins and has seven years of NFL coaching experience. He has spent much of his career as a defensive line coach. He also worked for two seasons as the assistant head coach under John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens.
Thomas Brown is expected to interview for the Seahawks offensive coordinator opening
Bears interim coach Thomas Brown is set to meet with Bears officials about his chance to stay as head coach, but the team’s desire to start fresh will likely lead them in a different direction. As a result, Brown will be looking for a new job and is expected to explore the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator position this weekend, according to reports.
The Seahawks’ offensive coordinator position opened up this week when coach Mike Macdonald fired Ryan Grubb. Grubb had only spent one season in that role after replacing Shane Waldron last year. Macdonald cited differences in vision with Grubb as a reason for the change. If the Seahawks want a more balanced offense with a stronger focus on the running game, Brown could be a good fit.
Brown and Macdonald worked together for one season at Georgia in 2011 when Brown was the strength and conditioning coach and Macdonald was a quality control coach.
Jan. 8
Bears interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel
Vrabel, who had a 54-45 record over six seasons with the Titans, is one of the top candidates in this hiring cycle. He worked as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns this season and has already interviewed with the New York Jets. He is also reportedly scheduled to meet with the New England Patriots on Thursday. Vrabel, 49, played for the Patriots for eight of his 14 NFL seasons and is considered a leading candidate for their head coach position.
Vrabel, a former linebacker, has a defensive coaching background, so the Bears likely asked him to explain his plans for quarterback Caleb Williams. This includes suggesting possible coordinators and coaches who would join him in Chicago. Bears players who worked under Vrabel in Tennessee described him as a detailed and no-nonsense coach who sets high standards from the start.
Bears interviewed Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing
Petzing, 37, has been the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator for just two seasons. This year, he helped lead the team to a top-10 rushing offense, aided by quarterback Kyler Murray. Before joining the Cardinals, Petzing worked for the Cleveland Browns for three seasons, including serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2022. He also spent six years as an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings.
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon expressed excitement for Petzing receiving interest from other teams for a head coaching role. Gannon praised Petzing’s ability to teach, his intelligence, and his talent for getting the best out of people, saying that Petzing has had valuable experiences and has been well-trained in coaching.
