Bears Head Coach Search: News and Rumors Around Top Candidates

One of the most surprising moves of Black Monday came out of the Windy City, as the Chicago Bears announced the firing of head coach Lovie Smith after nine seasons, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

"

BREAKING: #Bears have fired coach Lovie Smith, I'm told #BlackMonday

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2012"

Smith led the Bears to a 10-6 record this season, but a 3-5 finish following a 7-1 start kept them from making the playoffs for the second straight year and the fifth time in the last six years. 

The firing was a shock just because the Bears did have a strong season and there really seemed to be no indication from anyone in the organization leading up to the final week of the season that Smith was in any danger. 

But the franchise is looking towards the future now, so it is time to start breaking down all the potential candidates—both those reported to be on their list and those rumored to either have interest or who the team has interest in—to replace Smith. 

Considering that the Bears did win 10 games in a very good division, are one of the most storied franchises in all of professional sports and have pieces in place to be good for a long time, filling the vacancy should not be difficult. 

Here are the latest rumblings and grumblings surrounding the Bears and their search for a new head coach. 

Marc Trestman

The Chicago Bears have found their new head coach, naming former Canadian Football League head man Marc Trestman as their latest hire for the position, according to the team's official Twitter account:

"

LM: It's official: Marc Trestman has been named the 14th head coach in Chicago #Bears history.

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 16, 2013"

Trestman, 57, was previously the head coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes from 2008 to 2012. He won CFL Coach of the Year honors in 2009, leading the team to back-to-back Grey Cup wins in 2009 and 2010. Prior to that, the Minneapolis native had held various coaching positions for several NFL teams from 1985 to 2004.

Contrary to former Bears coach Lovie Smith, Trestman specializes on the offense end, where Chicago has struggled in recent seasons.

Mike Singletary, Minnesota Vikings Assistant

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Bears are set to interview former Bears great Mike Singletary for the vacant head coaching job in the Windy City:

"

Add 2 more names to #Bears interview list for Phil Emery: #Vikings assistants Mike Singletary and special teams coach Mike Priefer.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 8, 2013"

Singletary is currently an assistant for the Minnesota Vikings. He played linebacker for the Bears from 1981 to 1992 and boasts two and a half seasons of NFL head coaching experience, making his debut with the San Francisco 49ers a few years back.

Singletary compiled a record of 18-22 from 2008 to 2010 in San Francisco, but is a Hall of Fame player and one with deep ties to Chicago.

Mike Priefer, Minnesota Vikings Special Teams Coordinator

The Bears will reportedly interview Minnesota Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer for their head coaching position as well according to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs via Twitter:

"

Add 2 more names to #Bears interview list for Phil Emery: #Vikings assistants Mike Singletary and special teams coach Mike Priefer.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 8, 2013"

Priefer has several years of experience as a special teams coach in the NFL, and has been with Minnesota for the last two seasons. Before then, he coached the Denver Broncos special teams for a few years.

Rick Dennison, Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator

UPDATE: Sunday, January 6 at 11:25 a.m. ET by Patrick Clarke 

The Chicago Bears are reportedly looking at current Houston Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison as a potential head coach in 2013 and beyond. According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Bears have received permission to interview him:

"

Bears asked for and received permission to interview Texans OC Rick Dennison for HC job. Dennison worked with Cutler and Marshall in Denver.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2013"

According to Schefter, Dennison has experience with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and Chicago's star wide receiver Brandon Marshall. The three men worked together in Denver a few years back. 

The Houston Chronicle's John McClain reports that it would be the fourth offensive coordinator to leave Houston during the Gary Kubiak era:

"

Texans could lose 4th OC under Gary Kubiak. Rick Dennison was given permission to interview with Bears. ESPN first reported the story.

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 6, 2013"

Chicago ranked 16th and 28th in the league in scoring offense and total yards respectively in 2012, while Houston's Rick Dennison-led offense ranked seventh and eighth in each respective category.

---End of Update---

Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts Offensive Coordinator

UPDATE: Thursday, Jan. 3 at 1:50 p.m. ET by David Daniels

Bruce Arians did such a phenomenal job playing the role of head coach on the Indianapolis Colts while Chuck Pagano battled cancer that naturally, he's one of the hottest candidates available.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Bears got a head start in the pursuit of the offensive mind.

"

#Bears are 1st team to put in an interview request for #Colts OC Bruce Arians, I'm told. Won't be the last. #Chargers among those interested

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 3, 2013

"

Arians has never been a head coach. He was the offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns from 2001-2003 and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007-2011.

According to ESPN, GM Phil Emery claimed Lovie Smith was fired because of a lack of postseason success and poor offense. Well, Arians has two Super Bowl rings and is an offensive guy.

---End of Update---

Mike McCoy, Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator

UPDATE: Thursday, January 3 at 11:34 a.m. ET

Mike McCoy reportedly will interview with the Bears on Sunday, January 6, according to Chicago Tribune's Vaughn McClure.

"

Bears GM Phil Emery's interview with Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is officially set for Sunday.

— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) January 3, 2013"

---End of Update---

According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, one name the Bears want to bring in for an interview is Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy:

"

The Bears have already asked for permission to interview Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. He's a very, very hot name right now

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 31, 2012"

Glazer mentions that McCoy is a "very, very hot name" after the Broncos finished with the AFC's best record during the regular season and the offense finished second in the league in points per game (30.1). 

McCoy's offensive background would make him the polar opposite of Smith, who specialized in defense coming over from St. Louis, where he was the defensive coordinator.

The Bears have to figure out what to do with Jay Cutler, and since they don't seem likely to get rid of him, the next best option is find a coach with a strong background in coaching quarterbacks. McCoy spent time as the quarterbacks coach in Carolina before moving to Denver in 2010. 

Under McCoy's direction in 2010, Kyle Orton, former Bears quarterback, threw for 3,653 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He found a system that worked for Tim Tebow the following year, getting the Broncos into the postseason and defeating Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Game. 

Keith Armstrong, Atlanta Falcons Special Teams Coach

Alex Marvez of Fox Sports is reporting that the Bears will interview Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong for the position. 

"

#Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong set for head coaching interviews with Kansas City & Chicago, a source tells @foxsports.com

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) December 31, 2012"

While certainly not a household name, Armstrong does have history with the Bears franchise. He has been a coach in the NFL since 1994, including being the Bears' special teams coach from 1997-2000 before taking the same position with Miami and then Atlanta. 

The Bears need to examine all possible options for the job right now. Armstrong has been a great special teams coach for a long time. During his tenure with the Falcons, they have had one of the most consistent special teams units in the NFL. 

His resume isn't as flashy as someone like McCoy's, or any other high-profile coordinator potentially linked to the job, but he has had success wherever he has been and he understands the pride and history of the Bears franchise better than most candidates. 

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