Bears bring Olson in for interview

Greg Olson, the Bears’ quarterbacks coach for one year (2003) under Dick Jauron, was at Halas Hall on Thursday interviewing for the same position, which will also includes the title of passing game coordinator.

Olson, 48, is the first candidate to interview for the position left open when last season’s quarterbacks coach Shane Day was not rehired.

After leaving the Bears, Olson spent a year as the Lions’ quarterbacks coach and a year as their offensive coordinator. He was the Rams’ offensive coordinator the next two years before moving to Tampa as the Bucs’ quarterbacks coach.

The following season (2009) he was promoted to offensive coordinator and in 2010 was instrumental in the spectacular season enjoyed by second-year quarterback Josh Freeman. The former first-round pick ranked sixth in the NFL with a 95.9 passer rating, and he threw 25 TD passes and just 6 interceptions.

While at Purdue as the quarterbacks coach, Olson tutored Drew Brees, who finished his career as the Big Ten’s all-time leader in completions, yards and touchdown passes.

The Bears are also reportedly interested in three other candidates.

타Former Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, 52, worked on the same staff with Mike Tice for three years in Jacksonville. But he’s likely to land a coordinator’s job elsewhere.

타University of Miami offensive coordinator Jeff Fisch is just 36, but he has nine years of NFL experience, most recently as the Seahawks’ quarterbacks coach in 2010. He worked with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler as the Broncos’ receivers coach in 2008. Prior to that he spent four seasons with the Ravens, including three as the assistant quarterbacks coach.

타Jeremy Bates, 35, worked with Cutler for two years in Denver (2007-08) as the quarterbacks coach, and he called plays in the second season. But the Seahawks fired him after one year as offensive coordinator in 2010, and he was out of football this past season.

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