Candidates Swell to 13: Chicago Bears Head Coaching Search Tracker
I’m setting up this post as a landing spot to update the Chicago Bears Head Coaching Search. You can find the status of the latest candidates, interviews, results, etc. I’ll update this post as things develop, so bookmark it and check back frequently.
UPDATED 1/8/13
Aug 30, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub yells in the first half of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Dave Toub
Current Position: Chicago Bears special teams coordinator
Current Status (as of 1/8/13): Reportedly already interviewed with Phil Emery to move to the corner office.
Comments: None of the prospective head coaching candidates know this Bears roster and know these Bears players better than Toub. His special teams units are consistently among the tops in the NFL.
Jan 1, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings special assistant to the head coach Mike Singletary looks to the video board in a break from the action with the Chicago Bears at the Metrodome. The Bears win 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Singletary
Current Position: Minnesota Vikings linebackers coach
Current Status (as of 1/8/13): Singletary’s name popped up on Monday night as the latest to be on Phil Emery’s radar. No interview date has been released.
Comment: Singletary’s candidacy takes the coaching search over the shark. This cannot happen, no matter how he eyeballs Emery.
Nov 20, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer during the game against the Oakland Raiders at the Mall of America Field. The Raiders defeated the Vikings 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Priefer
Current Position: Minnesota Vikings special teams coordinator
Current Status (as of 1/8/13): Just like Singletary, Priefer’s name just popped up Monday night. No word on a time for his interview.
Comments: Priefer is widely respected around the league and has a military background. He and Emery were at the Naval Academy in the 90’s when Emery was strength and conditioning coach. A longshot at best.
Dec 1, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Eagles 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Derrell Bevell
Current Position: Seahawks Offensive Coordinator
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): CBS Sports is reporting the Bears have requested permission to interview Bevell. His Seahawks pulled off an upset over the Washington Redskins on Sunday. He’ll be busy preparing for the Atlanta Falcons this week, but an interview is expected to take place.
Comments: Bevell has taken his turn through the NFC North, having worked as an offensive assistant (2000 – 2002) and quarterbacks coach (2003 – 2005) with the Green Bay Packers before becoming the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings (2006 – 2010). He’s currently the offensive coordinator for Pete Carroll’s surging Seahawks.
Jan 15, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison during the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at M
Rick Dennison
Current Position: Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): Bears requested permission to interview Dennison follow the Texans’ win over the Bengals on Wild Card Saturday. The interview has been granted but no official word on when it’s set to take place. The Texans head out to New England to take on the Patriots in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Comments: I have to credit my guy Adam over at Chicago Bears Huddle, who was the first that I saw to drop Dennison’s name as a prospective candidate. Dennison was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator when Jay Cutler made a trip to the Pro Bowl. His Texans offense is nothing to sneeze at either. A solid choice.
Marc Trestman
Current Position: Head Coach, Montreal Alouttes
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): The Bears will reportedly interview Trestman on Monday.
Comments: Don’t be fooled by Trestman’s status as a head coach in the CFL; he’s got plenty of NFL experience. The 56-year old Trestman has kicked around the NFL since 1985 and spent a bulk of his last 25 years working with and developing quarterbacks. In fact, he’s worked with a lot of college QB’s prior to the Combine, including Jay Cutler back in 2006.
Dec 30 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians on the sidelines during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Houston 28-16. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Arians
Current Position: Indianapolis Colts Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach
Current Status (as of 1/6/13): Bears set to interview Arians this week even though he fell ill just before the Colts’ loss to the Ravens in Wild Card Weekend.
Comments: Arians has a Super Bowl ring from his days coordinating the Pittsburgh Steelers offense from 2007-2011. The 60-year old Arians stepped in as the Colts head coach and led them to a 9-3 record while Chuck Pagano had to step down for part of the season while undergoing cancer treatment. If there were doubts about his legitimacy as a head coach before this season, he’s silenced his doubters. He’s a coach of the year candidate. It’s not often those types of guys hit the market, so it’s a huge opportunity for the Bears.
August 25, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael during the second half of a preseason game against the Houston Texans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Texans 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Pete Carmichael
Current Position: New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator
Current Status (As of January 6, 2013): Emery interviewed Carmichael on Thursday 1/3/13.
Comments: Carmichael ran the Saints’ 2nd ranked Saints offense this season while Sean Payton sat out in the wake of the Bountygate scandal that rocked the Saints. The 41-year old Carmichael has been with the Saints since 2006, where he’s served as quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator and offensive coordinator. He’s been in the NFL since 2000 where he spent time with the Chargers, Redskins and Browns.
Tom Clements
Current Position: Green Bay Packers Offensive Coordinator
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): Emery is set to interview Clements in Green Bay on Thursday 1/10/13.
Comments: If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. A few years back Clements was the quarterbacks coach for the Packers and the Bears requested to interview him for their vacant head offensive coordinator position. The Packers have been long been developing quarterbacks. Clements has worked with Favre and Rodgers, so that’s pretty good resume material.
Oct 28, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy calls in a play in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Byron Hetzler-USA TODAY Sports
Mike McCoy
Current Position: Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): Phil Emery completed his interview with McCoy on Sunday evening. He also interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who are reportedly considering making McCoy an offer.
Comments: McCoy adapted the Broncos’ offense once to suit Tim Tebow’s unique “talents” on the fly to help rally that team from the scrap heap to the playoffs in 2011. Some might say that he’s just holding a clipboard for Peyton Manning this season, but he’s re-shaped the Broncos’ offense again to fit what Manning brings to the table. He’s a hot commodity, with multiple teams expressing interest.
August 3, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan during training camp at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Sullivan
Current Position: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): Emery’s interview with Sullivan went much longer than expected, going 6 hours rather than the scheduled 3 hours.
Comments: Sullivan has a couple of Super Bowl rings with his time with the Giants where he was quarterbacks coach and had a hand in the development of Eli Manning. He took the offensive coordinator job in Tampa and helped Josh Freeman’s resurgence.
Jan 8, 2012; East Rutherford, NY, USA; Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. The Giants defeated the Falcons 24-2. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Keith Armstrong
Current Position: Atlanta Falcons Special Teams Coordinator
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): The first of Emery’s interviews.
Comments: Armstrong coached the Bears special teams from ’97 – ’00 at the same time as Emery was a scout with the Bears. They also spent time together in Atlanta in 2008 when Emery was director of college scouting and Armstrong with ST coordinator. Some speculate that Armstrong is getting interviews to satisfy the Rooney Rule, where teams must interview a minority candidate.
Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis watches pre-game warmups of the team before the game against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. The Giants beat the Cowboys 29-24. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Joe DeCamillis
Current Position: Dallas Cowboys Special Teams Coordinator
Current Status (As of 1/6/13): Interview completed on Saturday morning. No word on how it went.
Comments: DeCamillis is said to be a fiery guy, so that might appeal to the meatballs who are looking for “fire and passion” from their head coach. He and Emery have a history when they worked together in Atlanta.