The Bears have requested to interview a billion folks to be their head coach. Maybe the number isn’t that high, but it’s close. Everyone says they’ll cast a wide net. The Bears truly have.

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General manager Ryan Poles talked about collecting data points in his postseason presser, about gathering information during the process when asked about interviewing so many.

“I think it’s adding more data to the equation,” Poles said. “It’s digging deeper with our research, all of those things are really important. I think also knowing the team and where it is right now, knowing it better than I ever have before that’s important. As you go along, you gain wisdom every single year and every single experience that you go through and that helps you make better decisions as you go.”

The Bears must make the right decision. They’ve got plenty of options to choose from, each one with a drawback of some kind. That’s why there’s debate about which candidate should be the selection. Let’s put them in some order, power rankings style. Before we do, let’s note that this isn’t ranked prediction of who will get the job. There are no odds here.

It’s just my opinion and meant to be a fun story, not a serious one. Let’s view it as such. Deal? Deal.

1. Mike McCarthy

Never would I have ever imagined putting former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy atop this list. Before Tuesday, anyway, when I took a deep dive into his record and career accomplishments. His big-game management clearly needs some polish, but this is someone with an incredible track record of winning, offensive production and getting the best out of talented quarterbacks. That’s a rare combination on the Bears interview list and taps into most everything the search committee says it’s looking for.

1a/2. Ben Johnson

Johnson’s the clear fan favorite. McCarthy is assuredly not. Head-coaching experience is the super-slight separator here, as is the Bears’ need to take a smart and safe bet. They can’t screw this hire up, and Johnson’s lack of experience creates one question mark. Everything else about him seems ideal, from his offensive creativity to reportedly tireless work ethic his personality, which is why he’s the top option on the market. If he’s their top target, can Ryan Poles land the plane against stiff competition?

3. Aaron Glenn

The more I research Aaron Glenn, the more I like about him. What he has done with Detroit’s banged up defense is remarkable. His players seem to love him. And even Johnson says Glenn’s more prepared to be a head coach than “maybe anyone I’ve ever met.” Despite him being a defensive specialist, this is the leader-of-men type the Bears are searching for.

4. Pete Carroll

I get it. Pete Carroll’s 73 years old. He also walks around like he just downed an extra-large Pixy Stick. He’s someone in complete command and brings discipline (and quality game management) with an aura of positivity. He rules with a smile, not an iron fist. Players like that. They’ll also like the Super Bowl ring as evidence of sterling resume. If he has a solid succession plan that involves a bright young offensive mind anointed as the next man up, Carroll is great choice to bring the Bears out of the darkness.

5. Brian Flores

Brian Flores might be higher on my list that yours, considering what Tua said about him and his exit as Miami head coach, but Vikings players swear by him and his coaching style. His defensive schematics are awesome and super effective. He says he has evolved as a coach but will continue to challenge his guys. That’s something the Bears players swear they want.

6. Todd Monken

It might be easy to tag Todd Monken’s place in the rankings as recency bias, considering what Lamar Jackson is currently doing. It’s not. Monken has a long history of getting the best out of his players, especially the talented ones. And Caleb Williams sure is talented. We also have a firsthand account on Monken from Bears on the Marquee host Carmen Vitali – she worked with him in Tampa Bay – who said he’s super positive while being detail oriented and demanding at the same time. That’s a good combination. He has only been a college head coach, but was successful while doing it.

7. Kliff Kingsbury

Kliff Kingsbury’s Caleb Williams ties, from their USC days, are strong. The pair like and respect each other. Pair that with what Kingsbury has done with Jayden Daniels in Washington and the Bears have a quality option with head-coaching experience. His tenure in Arizona wasn’t great, though Kingsbury says he has learned a ton from culture builder Dan Quinn in Washington. Is he ready to apply it after just one season?

8. Joe Brady

When Josh Allen was asked about Joe Brady as a head-coach candidate, the Bills quarterback said (in jest) how other teams should stay away.That’s the ultimate compliment. Allen doesn’t want Brady to go anywhere. The Bills offense has been strong under his guidance, though he’s the youngest candidate on the list. But that shouldn’t exclude him from strong consideration if Johnson goes elsewhere and the Bears are sold on going with a young offensive coordinator.

9. Arthur Smith

I covered Arthur Smith over his three years as Falcons head coach, and he did a lot offensively without a full deck and an unstable quarterback situation. His run-game schematics are so smart, and it would be interesting to see how he does in the pass game with Williams’ immense talent. Smith has experience as a head coach (a plus) and is the demanding individual the players want, thought that characteristic is paired with a wry, sarcastic sense of humor that keeps things light. His expectations are high, and he will challenge guys in a way his mentor, Mike Vrabel, does in creating a culture of accountability and a team-first mentality.

10. Ron Rivera

I had Thomas Brown here originally, considering how much players responded to him despite the Bears troublesome 2024 campaign, but Rivera’s close ties to the organization as a player and coach pushed him into the top 10. If there’s anyone who knows what it’s like to be a Bear and what the organization stands for, Rivera’s the guy. That could help rekindle the team’s golden era, bringing a modern twist to a 1980s vibe.