NEWSLETTER
We’ve hit the first turn of the race to find a new Chicago Bears head coach and general manager. And while there is no favorite in sight just yet, there is also no shortage of candidates.
Ideally, things will clear up as these interviews come-and-go.
However, it feels if they just keep coming. Here’s what is lined up for this week…
Todd Bowles, Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator
Much like how Brian Daboll had Josh Allen and the Bills offense put on a show to bolster his head coach candidacy, Todd Bowles had his Buccaneers doing the same. Tampa Bay came away with two sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 6 tackles-for-loss, and a pair of interceptions in its bullying of Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. For what it’s worth, Bowles was already a presumptive candidate after the Bears put in an interview request last week. But NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo tweeting confirmation of a Saturday interview with the Bucs DC provides a timetable for discussions.
This will mark Bowles’ second interview for a position with the Bears, although it will be just his first in this hiring cycle. If you’ll recall, Bowles was the first person Ryan Pace sat down for an interview with after joining the team as its GM in 2015. As in … it happened on the same day. Odd timing, to say the least. Pace isn’t around this time. In fact, there is no GM in place at this time. Of course, this isn’t stopping this wave of first interviews. Maybe there will be one in place by the time Bowles’ interview goes down.
Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator
Bowles’ defensive counterpart is also setting up for an interview for the Bears head coach vacancy. NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport has Leftwich down for a Thursday or Friday interview.
Not to be totally outshined by the defensive side of the ball, the Buccaneers offense orchestrated an attack that put up 31 points. QB Tom Brady (29/37, 271 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 115.2 rating), WR Mike Evans (9-117-1) and TE Rob Gronkowski (5-31-1) provide plenty of star power. But getting a ground score from Ke’Shawn Vaughn being a primary ball-carrier to go along with 18 touches, 83 scrimmage yards, and a ground score from Giovanni Bernard is a nice example of how that thing isn’t just the Tom Brady show.
As a reminder, Bucs HC Bruce Arians himself said Leftwich fully runs the Tampa offense. And that isn’t inconsequential.
Dan Quinn, Cowboys Defensive Coordinator
During ESPN’s halftime show of Monday’s Rams-Cardinals game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter listed the Bears as one of the teams lining up an interview with Cowboys DC Dan Quinn. Earlier today, The MMQB’s Albert Breer was reporting Quinn’s meeting with the Bears was coming on Saturday. Guess the Bears plan on being busy this week.
Unlike Leftwich and Bowles, Quinn has a bunch of free time on his hands because his team has been yeeted from the playoffs. That could give Quinn ample time to build his case, which likely revolves around a defense ranking seventh in points, second in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric, and first in takeaways. Quinn could also make a pitch on building out a staff, which wasn’t a strong suit as things went along for the previous regime. A coaching background with connections to Pete Carroll, Mike McCarthy, and Nick Saban (among others) could pique the Bears’ interest. After all, Quinn did employ Matt LaFleur, Kyle Shanahan, and Raheem Morris while in Atlanta.
Because of the defensive background and Falcons’ failings, Quinn won’t be a popular candidate among fans. But it doesn’t mean the Bears shouldn’t hear his pitch.
Leslie Frazier, Bills Defensive Coordinator
If it feels like we’ve been discussing Frazier’s candidacy for a while, it is because we have. Frazier’s name first began surfacing as a second-chance hiring candidate in December 2020. Fast forward to January 2022, and we can say we saw Frazier’s name floated multiple times in December before the Bears put in an interview request for the Bills’ DC. That interview is set to take place on Friday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Eliot Wolf (Patriots Front Office Consultant)
It looks like the Bears are in store for another double dip. Tom Pelissero (NFL Network) reports the Bears are set to interview executives Eliot Wolf (Patriots) and Morocco Brown (Colts) for Tuesday interviews.
Hey, that’s today!
As we pointed out when Wolf was first connected to the Bears, many will remember Wolf’s dad as the guy who built those pain-in-the-butt 90’s Packers teams. But stops in Cleveland and New England since leaving Green Bay suggests he is comfortable building his own résumé. At minimum, simply interviewing Wolf makes for another log on the Bears-Packers rivalry fire:
Man, Eliot Wolf running the Bears 🐻 football operation and competing against the Packers 🧀 — the franchise his dad resurrected and the team that chose Gutey over him for GM — would be absolutely fascinating. https://t.co/roXes3KROU
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) January 12, 2022
I am so here for this. The drama. The narratives. Please god yes. https://t.co/tmBVjewQzw
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) January 12, 2022
Morocco Brown (Colts Scouting Director)
It’s hard to pin a favorite at this stage of the game, but I can’t keep myself from wondering if a dynamic interview from Brown would shoot him to the top of the list. NBC Sports Chicago’s Adam Hoge put Brown’s candidacy in perspective:
Brown is coming from a strong organization in Indianapolis, but also has experience in other organizations (Washington from 2008-13, Cleveland from 2014-15). He also has prior ties to the Bears, which could help his case from a familiarity standpoint. And he has been garnering interest as a candidate around the league, interviewing the the Falcons last offseason. This feels like a name to keep tabs on.
The Bears are continuing to lineup interviews to fill both head coach and general manager positions
