For those seeking promising news about the Chicago Bears’ work-in-progress coaching search, the word out of Detroit is that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will get permission to partake in preliminary interviews this week, free to step away from his playoff preparation between Thursday afternoon and Saturday evening to engage in conversation with suitors.
The Bears should have their Zoom link ready.
Johnson has the Bears job high on his short list, with the in-demand coordinator also eager to explore the same opportunity with the New England Patriots while potentially considering the Jacksonville Jaguars’ request to speak.
For the Bears, the feeling of serious interest is mutual — though their list of alternative options is longer. Much, much, much longer.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Bears reportedly were linked to more than a dozen known candidates, via either a formal interview request or reported interest between the sides.
“We’re turning over every stone to make sure we’re doing this the right way,” general manager Ryan Poles said Tuesday at the team’s end-of-season news conference at Halas Hall.
In the earliest stages of the coaching search, open-mindedness seems to be the hallmark of the Bears process. Sure, the organization has lines in the water where the big fish — Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Brian Flores, Todd Monken and Mike McCarthy — are swimming. But the nets have been cast far wider, to potential candidates such as Mike Kafka, Anthony Weaver, Drew Petzing and Vance Joseph.
Surprise names also have popped up on the radar, Denver Broncos senior executive David Shaw and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith among them. Bears interim coach Thomas Brown will get his crack at an interview, as promised. And Poles insinuated Tuesday that a few attention-grabbing twists may be in store.
“There are going to be some names you don’t expect that are going to surprise you,” he said, “because we’re digging deeper than we ever have before.”
That deep digging, Poles said, could include consideration of trading for a coach.
“We’ll look at all avenues to get the best coach here,” he said.
Is there a number of candidates at which the Bears would cap their list?
“I haven’t put a limit on it,” Poles said.
What about a timeline for navigating what seems like could be an arduous and time-consuming process?
“We’re going to move with urgency,” Poles said. “But we’re not going to rush the process.”
Among the Bears’ priorities, Poles said, will be identifying candidates who can express a clear vision, embody a developmental mindset and have strong game-management skills. Communicating a plan for quarterback development also will be essential as the Bears try to lift Caleb Williams to new heights.
Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren stressed that the organization must retain elevated standards throughout this search, looking to identify coaching candidates who, among other things, can meet lofty expectations when it comes to overseeing team discipline and accountability while showing “vision, foresight and leadership.”
“Either you’re above the line or below the line,” Warren said. “It’s not about the person. It’s about the standard. And once we set that standard in the process — which we have done — it will become clear who the candidates are who meet that standard.”
More than five weeks after Matt Eberflus was fired and with plenty of runway to prepare for this search, the Bears have opted against paring their candidate list for the upcoming January run. Instead, with Poles as the point person and Warren offering oversight, the team has chosen an incredibly wide focus to find its guy.
“There are some intriguing candidates we want to talk to,” Poles explained.
Will that approach work? Who knows? And it likely will take a couple of years to fairly judge the results of this hiring cycle. But a come-one, come-all help-wanted ad is certainly a choice.
“The idea,” Bears Chairman George McCaskey said Tuesday, “is to get it right. As I’ve said, Bears fans deserve a winner. And we’re going to do everything we can (to provide one).”
Chicago Bears coaching search: Who we know are candidates for the job
Just three years ago, McCaskey presided over concurrent searches for a GM and coach and used the wide-net approach. The Bears conducted interviews with at least 22 known candidates for the two positions. They ultimately chose Poles as their GM. And Poles quickly selected Eberflus as his coach after the Bears had narrowed to Eberflus, Dan Quinn and Jim Caldwell as finalists while encouraging Poles to reopen the search if he desired.
McCaskey should have plenty of insight into how to refine the organization’s search processes. He became the Bears chairman in May 2011 and has been part of the brain trust that has hired three GMs (Phil Emery, Ryan Pace and Poles) and four head coaches (Marc Trestman, John Fox, Matt Nagy and Eberflus).
“You learn from your experiences,” McCaskey said, “gaining wisdom and insight into the process.”
Yet McCaskey wouldn’t provide specifics on exactly what he learned from each of those searches.
For the Bears, there’s also the delicate matter of Poles’ contract situation, with sources indicating the GM’s original deal expires after the 2025 season.
While no one at Halas Hall would clarify whether Poles has received an extension or could be in line for one soon, the organization must consider how it would handle things this month if a coaching candidate expresses reservations about either a) signing on to work under Poles in any capacity or b) agreeing to unite with Poles if the GM is entering an uncertain final year of his contract.
“From a hypothetical standpoint,” Warren said, “it probably wouldn’t be appropriate for me to answer that. I am confident in our process.”
Warren left room for interpretation about his confidence in Poles when asked Tuesday if he was fully committed to the GM for the long term, even if it caused concern for some coaching candidates.
“When we say long term, I mean, a year is a lifetime,” Warren said. “I know that’s important. And I know 2025 is important not only from a football standpoint but from a stadium standpoint, from an operations standpoint.
“Again, I trust Ryan. I trust the process that he has put together. I’m confident it will yield positive results. We will hire a world-class coach.”
As that search intensifies, Poles identified a Halas Hall “interview panel” that will include Warren, McCaskey, director of football administration Matt Feinstein, senior director of player personnel Jeff King and chief human resources officer Liz Geist.
Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Poles said, will participate as he can but will be afforded freedom this month to pursue his own career advancement opportunities.
The Bears also plan to give Ted Crews, the chief administrative officer and special adviser to the president/CEO, a prominent seat at the table. That comes with the recognition that Crews, under Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, was part of that organization’s 2012-13 search that brought in Andy Reid.
Reid has won nine division titles, four conference championships and three Super Bowls during his 12 seasons in Kansas City.
A busy month only will get busier for the Bears. And everyone at Halas Hall seems aware of what’s at stake.
“This decision on our head football coach,” Warren said, “will impact the trajectory of this franchise for the next 10, 15, 20 years. We have to get this right. And I’m confident that we will.”
For whatever it’s worth, this week’s phase of the process likely will include an ice-breaking session with Johnson. How things evolve from there is anyone’s guess.
