CHICAGO — As the Chicago Bears continue their methodical process vetting candidates simultaneously for their general manager and head coach openings, action should pick up soon.
ESPN reported Saturday morning Kansas City Chiefs executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles, a GM candidate, will get a second interview. It already was reported Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus will receive a second interview, something he already completed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The first of four GM openings leaguewide was filled Friday when the New York Giants hired Buffalo Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, who also interviewed with the Bears. Eight teams — one-fourth of the league — remain in the hunt for a head coach.
Once the first domino falls in the coaching search, other teams could begin acting quickly. The Bears are proceeding at their own pace with hired gun Bill Polian leading the search, and they’ve been linked to nearly 30 combined GM and coaching candidates, something that has raised eyebrows around the league.
“There aren’t eight head coaches in the group that everyone is recycling for interviews,” an assistant GM for one team said. “That’s why being the first pick is key. As soon as that first coach is hired, it is going to be like a wildfire. It’s like the draft when a run on a position starts. They pop off in a hurry when teams start losing options.”
Of course, making the first hire doesn’t guarantee success. There is so much turnover annually that it’s clear the hiring process for head coaches is as unscientific as scouting is for the draft. Half of the eight teams (maybe more) working to hire head coaches will likely be back in the cycle within three or four years.
Some wonder if a ninth opening will be created. The unknown is Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy after his wild-card round exit Jan. 16. Owner Jerry Jones has reserved comment so far and some are keeping a close eye on the Cowboys.
The “key” is that the first coaching hire should spur action by other teams.
The Bears, who interviewed Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn Saturday morning, aren’t behind other teams in the cycle. The Minnesota Vikings reportedly will have Poles and Cleveland Browns vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who interviewed with the Bears, back for Round 2 interviews for their GM job. Minnesota also is working through head coach interviews.
The Las Vegas Raiders are just getting started in their GM search and don’t have a lot of overlap with the Bears other than Ed Dodds of the Colts, who reportedly removed himself from consideration with the Bears, and Champ Kelly, the Bears assistant director of player personnel. Kelly seems like a longshot to be promoted at Halas Hall considering the organization likely will seek a fresh start from the last seven years.
The availability of head-coaching candidates plays a factor in the pace of the cycle. Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll completed a second interview with the Giants on Friday night and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier met with the Giants for a second time Saturday morning.
If the Bills lose Sunday night at Kansas City, Daboll and Frazier become available immediately. If Buffalo wins, any team wanting to hire either of those coordinators will be forced to wait. Poles is available to interview next week but will be with the Chiefs until their season concludes.
The Bears have been linked to Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, and they will have to interview him Saturday or wait until the defending Super Bowl champions are eliminated from postseason.
Colts college scouting director Morocco Brown is on deck to interview with the Bears, something that will reportedly happen Monday. The Bears have also scheduled interviews next week with Pittsburgh Steelers vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan and New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
One theory for why the Bears have cast such a wide net for a GM is that the team potentially could be looking for a candidate that the eventual hire could consider for an assistant GM role or something along those lines. But that’s only a possibility.
The future of Bears assistant coaches is to be determined. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai met with the Seattle Seahawks, who are seeking to hire a defensive coordinator, on Thursday. Former Bears assistant Clint Hurtt, the defensive line coach in Seattle, is also believed to be a candidate for that position.
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has a second interview scheduled with the Carolina Panthers on Monday and it wouldn’t be surprising if he generated more interest once teams hiring head coaches begin filling staffs.
Things could soon begin moving quickly for the Bears, and the extensive search should not be seen as an obstacle to them landing their preferred candidates.
The Bears will tell you the process, when it reaches the end line, ultimately led to the best outcome. That will be judged over the next few years.
