Who are the Bears requesting interviews with for head coach?
The coaching search began in earnest Monday. The Bears started their next chapter one day after defeating the Green Bay Packers for the first time in six years.
Beginning Monday, NFL teams with head coach openings can begin requesting interviews with coaches employed by other teams. Initial interviews with some candidates can begin as early as Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren will kick their search into high gear this week, roughly five weeks after firing former head coach Matt Eberflus.
Here are the coaching candidates who the Bears have already requested interviews with, per reports. The team will also formally interview interim head coach Thomas Brown, Poles said Sunday on the team’s official radio network.
- Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator (per ESPN)
- Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator (per the NFL Network)
- Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator (per the NFL Network)
- Mike Kafka, New York Giants offensive coordinator (per the NFL Network)
- Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys head coach (per ESPN)
- Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator (per the NFL Network)
- Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator (per ESPN)
Who else has head coach openings?
The Bears fired Eberflus on Nov. 29. Warren threw his support behind Poles days after the team fired Eberflus. Poles will be the “point person” in charge of the hiring process, but Warren and Poles will conduct interviews “in tandem.”
The Bears weren’t the only NFL team to fire a coach during the season. The New York Jets fired Robert Saleh in October and the New Orleans Saints fired coach Dennis Allen in November.
Over the past 24 hours, the New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo after only one season and the Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson after three seasons.
The New York Giants announced their support for head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen on Monday morning, despite a 3-14 season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones praised the work of McCarthy on Sunday, but the Cowboys haven’t announced what they will do at head coach. McCarthy’s contract is set to expire this offseason. There’s also been speculation about the Las Vegas Raiders, who have yet to say what they will do with Antonio Pierce.
Jets request an interview with Matt Nagy
One former Bears head coach also found his name in the headlines Monday. The Jets have requested an interview with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, according to multiple reports.
Since the Bears fired Nagy following the 2021 season, Nagy returned to Kansas City to work with mentor Andy Reid. Nagy spent his first season as the quarterbacks coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023. The Chiefs have won the past two Super Bowls and are trying to become the first team to win three straight.
The Jets are also reportedly requesting an interview with Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi. Borgonzi’s brother Dave Borgonzi is the current Bears linebackers coach.
The Bears went 34-31 over four seasons with Nagy as head coach, making two playoff appearances.