For the third time since 2017, Chicago Bears fans are watching the NFL playoffs with one eye on the rumor mill as they keep tabs on the team’s head coach search. Here is the latest
Kliff Kingsbury can meet with the Bears this week
The latest on Kliff Kingsbury:
From @NFLGameDay: Interviews loom for #Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, while #AZCardinals owner Michael Bidwill and I discussed how Arizona stepped in to host a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/S3KE8wZ0PA— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2025
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport fills us in with a Kingsbury update, noting that the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator can meet with teams during the middle of the week. Kingsbury reportedly has interview requests from the Bears and New Orleans Saints. The Commanders are set to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road on wild-card Sunday. It will be interesting to see how Kingsbury’s offense performs under the microscope of playoff football.
BEARS HEAD COACH SEARCH: Is Kliff Kingsbury Ready For Another Bite at the Apple?
It would be quite Bears-y to hire Kliff Kingsbury one year after passing on the opportunity to give him the offensive coordinator gig. And while Kingsbury is an intriguing second-chance candidate, I feel as if a lot has to happen for that possibility to come to light. This isn’t to say that it won’t happen or can’t happen. However, I think a top tier of candidates will have to come off the board before Chicago lands on Kingsbury as their next head coach.
When can coaching candidates interview
Coaching candidates on teams playing this weekend can interview for head coach positions three days after their game on wild-card weekend ends. These interviews must be conducted by the time the divisional round of games ends on Jan. 19. With that in mind, here is when known Bears coaching candidates who haven’t already interviewed can speak with the Bears:
- Todd Monken, Ravens offensive coordinator: Wednesday
- Arthur Smith, Steelers offensive coordinator: Wednesday
- Joe Brady, Bills offensive coordinator: Thursday
- Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders offensive coordinator: Thursday
- David Shaw, Broncos senior personnel executive: Thursday
- Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator: Friday
BONUS: Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys head coach who was denied permission to speak with the Bears about their opening, can speak with the Bears after Jan. 14 if he hasn’t come to an agreement on a new deal with Dallas.
A big change in how the Bears do business
This anecdote at the top of this story by ESPN’s Courtney Cronin opened my eyes:
When the Chicago Bears fly in candidates for their head coaching search, they’d like to make the lasting impression of a first-class organization.
Part of that franchise facelift will mean not making the candidates fly in economy class, according to a team source. Some teams will send private planes for candidates to interview for coordinator jobs, but the Bears have been known to skimp, even for a head coaching position.
“That’s going to be taken care of,” a team source recently told ESPN. “If anyone comes in to interview and digs into how we do things, they’re going to understand that this is a first-class organization.”
That’s going to put a dent in the travel budget, considering general manager Ryan Poles said he is casting a “wide net” to find Matt Eberflus’ replacement.
The Bears are hoping the new wrinkle in the process helps land a first-class coach.
One of my longest-standing gripes with the Bears, as an organization, is that the franchise operates like a mom-and-pop shop despite being a billion-dollar entity. That this team is finally getting with the times is nice. Maybe it will have a fighting chance at making a home-run hire.
Extra points
Other coaching rumors, nuggets, and tidbits…
- ICYMI: The first domino fell as Mike Vrabel was hired by the Patriots. But when one door closes, another opens. As Vrabel’s name goes off the list, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman jumps on board.
- Vincent Bonsignore (Las Vegas Review-Journal) reports that Deion Sanders “has a very strong interest” in the Raiders job. Meanwhile, The Athletic reports the Raiders have “zero interest” in Coach Prime. The Bonsignore story quotes an unnamed source with knowledge of the situation. But Sanders’ interest is moot if the feeling is mutual. But still … Coach Prime landing in Vegas is the type of thing that NFL script-writers would drool over if it came to fruition. Hiring Sanders is the kind of outside-of-the-box move that I’ve grown accustomed to seeing from the Raiders. Vegas thrives on big names. I hope it happens (and not just because it would clear a path for Ben Johnson to land with the Bears).
- Even though there was some chatter about Jon Gruden’s name popping up as a head coach candidate, there have been no reputable reports of any interviews being lined up for the Super Bowl XXXVII-winning coach. Mike Florio (Pro Football Talk) hears that word has been making the rounds that Gruden’s agent has been telling folks that his client has a job in hand. Even if it is true, it means that someone is doing a grand job of keeping it under wraps.
- More from The Athletic, which polled coaches and asked them to rank the job openings. It is weird to see a job that isn’t open yet (Cowboys) rank No. 1. Nevertheless, this was worth reading.