The Chicago Bears interviewed two candidates for their head coaching position on Saturday: Brian Flores, the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator, and Adam Stenavich, the Green Bay Packers’ offensive coordinator.
Flores, 43, has spent the last two years managing Minnesota’s defense after serving as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. Before that, he was the Miami Dolphins’ head coach for three years, finishing with a 24-25 record and no playoff appearances before being fired.
In February 2022, Flores filed a federal lawsuit against the NFL, the Dolphins, the Giants, and the Denver Broncos, alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices for leadership roles in the league.
Flores had an interview with the New York Jets on Friday and was expected to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars about their head coaching opening. The Vikings finished second in the NFC North with a 14-3 record, just behind the Detroit Lions.
Stenavich, on the other hand, just wrapped up his second season as the Packers’ offensive coordinator under head coach Matt LaFleur. Before that, he spent three years as Green Bay’s offensive line coach. With quarterback Jordan Love at the helm, the Packers finished fifth in the NFL in yards per game and eighth in scoring.
Despite having the youngest roster in the league for two consecutive years, the Packers ended with an 11-6 record, placing third in the NFC North. They were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bears are looking for a new head coach to replace Matt Eberflus, who was fired on November 29. Chicago finished last in the NFC North with a 5-12 record, losing 10 games in a row before securing a win against Green Bay in their final game of the season.
The main goal for the next head coach will be the development of quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had a solid season with 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. However, he was sacked a league-high 68 times, setting a franchise record.
Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California, made headlines on Saturday when he was seen courtside at the Wisconsin-USC basketball game in Los Angeles with his right hand in a cast or wrap. The wrap extended from his lower knuckles to below his wrist.
A source familiar with the situation said it was a minor elective procedure, but neither the Bears nor Williams have commented publicly on it. General manager Ryan Poles did not mention Williams among the players who were scheduled for surgery during his end-of-season press conference. Williams also had a new buzzed haircut, which surprised some people.
The Bears have interviewed 16 candidates so far. Some of the high-profile names include Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Other candidates include Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, interim coach Thomas Brown, former Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, former Stanford head coach David Shaw, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.
