Considering the Chicago Bears are unable to have in-person interviews for their head coaching vacancy until January 20, it seems that the team is taking the time before then to complete as many virtual interviews as possible.
Monday was a busy day for the Bears' head coach search. The team wasted no time submitting formal interview requests. The list of known candidates is below.
- Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
- Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator
- Anthony Weaver, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator
- Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator
- Mike Kafka, New York Giants offensive coordinator
- Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys head coach
- Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
- Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator
- Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator
- Mike Vrabel, Former Tennessee Titans head coach
- Thomas Brown, interim Bears head coach
- Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator
The list seems to be growing as Ian Rapoport reported on Monday night the Bears have submitted a request to the Denver Broncos to interview David Shaw. Shaw, the former Stanford head coach, is currently serving as an executive in the Broncos' front office.
The #Bears have requested to interview former #Stanford coach and currently #Broncos Senior Personnel Executive David Shaw for their vacant HC position, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2025
There seems to be a growing sense of annoyance from Bears fans with the growing list of candidates for the team's head coach vacancy. Considering the new rules around interviews this offseason, it makes sense for the Bears to leave no stone unturned during the initial couple weeks of their search for a new head coach.
The Bears are not going to hire a head coach before they host the candidate at Halas Hall for a face-to-face interview. That can't happen until January 20 at the earliest. For that reason, the best thing that the Bears can do until then is speak with as many candidates as possible. The goal should be to compile as many outside evaluations of the organization as possible. There is nothing wrong with that process. Sure, someone like Shaw likely doesn't have a great chance at becoming the next head coach of the Bears but during his interview, perhaps the team learns something about their operation that they were blind to in the past.