NFL head coach interview tracker: Bears cast wide net for new leader
With the 2024-25 NFL regular season over, the Bears have turned their attention to finding a new head coach.
General manager Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren have begun the search with a flourish, reportedly requesting interviews for a plethora of names.
[The rules Poles, Warren must follow in Bears’ head coach search]
Here is the full rundown of each rumored interview that either has happened or will come down the pipeline:
Tuesday, Jan. 7
Former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel
Vrabel spent 6 years as the head coach in Tennessee from 2018-23, amassing a 54-45 record and 3 trips to the playoffs.
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady
Brady has spearheaded a Buffalo offense that finished in the Top 10 in both points and yards in each of the last 2 seasons.
Former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll
The 73-year-old who patrolled the sidelines in Seattle for 14 years will reportedly interview with the Bears Thursday.
Bears receive word on McCarthy interview request
The Cowboys responded to the Bears and denied Chicago’s request to interview Mike McCarthy.
Monday, Jan. 6
Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown
Brown took over as the Bears’ interim head coach when Matt Eberflus was fired the day after Thanksgiving.
Brown said Monday that he will interview for the role full time.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
UPDATE: Johnson will reportedly interview with the Bears on Saturday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Since the Lions have a first-round Bye in the NFL playoffs, the Bears can interview each coordinator three days after the team’s Sunday night game, per league rules.
Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing
Because Arizona is eliminated from playoff contention, the Bears can interview Petzing three days after the final regular season game.
Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka
UPDATE: Kafka will interview virtually with the Bears on Thursday, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Kafka is a local product, having grown up in Chicago and playing his college ball at Northwestern.
Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver
Weaver helped turn the Dolphins defense into one of the top units in the league and has drawn rave reviews for his leadership skills.
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith
Smith has spent the 2024 season as the OC in Pittsburgh but he is one of the rare names on this list with head coaching experience – he filled the role with the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy
One of the most intriguing names on this list, McCarthy should be familiar to most Bears fans given he has held a head-coaching gig for most of the last 20 years – first with the Packers before being fired and taking over the Cowboys.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
Flores has head-coaching experience as well and has helped the Vikings defense turn in a banner season.
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken
Baltimore held one of the most explosive offenses in the league this season with Monken leading the charge.
Shaw was previously the head coach at Stanford, where he helped develop former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck and also coached against Caleb Williams.