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1st & North: Bears enter offseason searching for a head coach
The Chicago Bears begin the offseason with some confidence, having beat the Green Bay Packers on a last second field goal on Sunday. Now, the search begins for their new head coach.
Interviews to be the Chicago Bears' next head coach are currently underway.
Bears' general manager Ryan Poles currently has a list of candidates to talk to that goes well past a dozen.
"When we interview candidates, and they approve it we will make sure we put that out to you, who we interview," Poles said Tuesday. "I’m not going to go through and put all that out now, but as we complete an interview, we will send that out to make sure you have the name."
Here's a running list of whom the Bears have talked to, and are scheduled to talk to, for their head coaching position.
Jan. 9, 9:05 PM - Mike Kafka
The Northwestern alum and current New York Giants offensive coordinator will have his interview with the Bears on Thursday. He was the fourth candidate the Bears interviewed on Thursday.
Jan. 9, 4:30 - Pete Carroll
Carroll was the organization's third interview of the day on Thursday. He's the second candidate the Bears have interviewed who has past head coaching experience.
Carroll spent the year as a consultant after he and the Seahawks mutually parted ways after the 2023 season. He made his intentions known around Christmas that he wanted to return to the sidelines and specifically targeted the Bears' opening.
Jan. 9, 11:20 AM - Anthony Weaver
The second interview of the day was the Dolphins' defensive coordinator.
The Bears talked with Weaver, following reporting from The Athletic's Diana Russini that Poles' search shifted to Weaver. The Bears requested and got an interview with Weaver, who has only been the defensive coordinator in Miami for the 2024 season.
Jan. 9, 8:00 AM - Drew Petzing
The Bears were up early and talked with Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
This was one of the more surprising names on the Bears' interview list. The Cardinals' offense wasn't as effective as the Lions' offense, but he rose up the ranks in the NFL as a quarterbacks coach.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Bears' interest in Petzing, and noted his name was one that was rising among the coaching ranks.
Jan. 8, 5:03 PM - Mike Vrabel
Vrabel was the first interview the Bears conducted.
He spoke to the Bears in the evening on the same day Poles, Warren and McCaskey held end-of-the-year press conferences.
Vrabel is already in high demand, having interviewed with the New York Jets and New England Patriots before talking with the Bears.