Chicago Bears 2025 Head Coach Interview Tracker
Thanks to new NFL rules, the Chicago Bears won’t hire a head coach for at least a couple of weeks. That makes it relatively certain that they will talk to at least a dozen candidates. By all accounts, this search is run by the pairing of GM Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren. Interview requests have started surfacing over the past 24 hours. So far, 11 names have been mentioned. More are expected to follow. Here is who is known. The tracker will update as information flows through.
Ben Johnson (OC, Detroit Lions)
Many view him as the favorite. He’s coordinated one of the NFL’s best offenses for three consecutive years despite lacking true star power.
Aaron Glenn (DC, Detroit Lions)
A former player who has kept the Lions defense respectable through a laundry list of injuries. He is known for fiery leadership and an aggressive mentality.
Todd Monken (OC, Baltimore Ravens)
Won two national championships as offensive coordinator for Georgia. Now has helped Lamar Jackson put together back-to-back MVP-caliber seasons.
Drew Petzing (OC, Arizona Cardinals)
Young assistant who worked with Warren for six years in Minnesota. Has considerably improved Arizona’s offense over the past two years, especially on the ground.
Mike Kafka (OC, New York Giants)
Strong ties to Ryan Poles from their time together in Kansas City. Highly thought of around the league and was viewed as a head coach-in-waiting. Setbacks in New York have sagged his stock, though.
Brian Flores (DC, Minnesota Vikings)
He was teammates with Poles in college and had a decent but controversial three-year stint as head coach in Miami. Has rehabbed his image with excellent work in Minnesota.
Mike McCarthy (HC, Dallas Cowboys)
Becomes a free agent in mid-January. Has been a head coach for 18 seasons, posting winning records in 12 of them while winning a Super Bowl in 2010.
Arthur Smith (OC, Pittsburgh Steelers)
He was the former head coach in Atlanta, where he had some decent seasons but never posted a winning record, largely due to quarterback problems. Has helped improve Pittsburgh’s offense this year.
Mike Vrabel (FHC, Tennessee Titans)
He ran the show in Tennessee for six seasons, posting four winning records and making the playoffs three times. Reached an AFC championship in 2019.
Anthony Weaver (DC, Miami Dolphins)
Defensive line specialist who got his first crack at coordinating this year. Significantly improved Miami’s defense, a long-time weakness, into a top-10 unit.
Thomas Brown (IHC, Chicago Bears)
He got handed a shit sandwich from the start. Made the best of it, beating the Packers in the season finale and ensuring the locker room doesn’t fracture further.
David Shaw (FHC, Stanford)
Checks both boxes of having head coaching experience and an offensive background. Shaw helped develop Andrew Luck before going 96-54 during a long, successful run in college.