The Bears interviewed former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel for their head coaching job on Wednesday, which was not unexpected.
But a name from the college ranks that has now come up, according to a Chicago Tribune report, certainly wasn’t on the radar of NFL coaching carousel pundits.
The Bears are expected to meet with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, that report says, citing multiple sources. Campbell has had a very successful nine-year tenure with the Cyclones, but he has not coached in the NFL.
Campbell led Iowa State to an 11-3 record in 2024, the first 10-win season in program history, and an appearance in the Big 12 title game. Iowa State beat Miami in a thriller, 42-41, on Dec. 28 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
According to the Tribune, Campbell, 45, received an eight-year contract extension from Iowa State in December, which runs through the 2032 season.
Vrabel well-known
In contrast to Campbell, the 49-year-old Vrabel is one of the more high-profile candidates available this offseason after leading Tennessee to a 54-45 record and three playoff appearances from 2018 to 2023.
The 2019 team advanced to the AFC Championship Game, losing to Patrick Mahomes and the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Tennessee combined to go 23-10 the next two seasons while capturing back-to-back AFC South championships, only to finish 7-10 in 2022 and 6-11 in 2023.
During his playing days, Vrabel was a hard-nosed linebacker who played on three Super Bowl championship teams over a 14-year career with Pittsburgh, New England and Kansas City from 1997 to 2010. He was All-Pro with the Patriots in 2007.
Vrabel already interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching position last week, but the job he’s been mainly linked to is the Patriots’ opening, given Vrabel’s connections from his playing days.
The Patriots fired Jerod Mayo after just one season. Mayo had taken over for Bill Belichick, but the Patriots went 4-13 this season. So Vrabel would seem to be a leading candidate to take the helm in New England.
The Bears, meanwhile, are counting on the next coach to help Caleb Williams develop into a franchise quarterback and lift a team that finished last in the NFC North at 5-12 this season. Chicago fired a head coach during a season for the first time when Matt Eberflus was let go on Nov. 29 with the team in the middle of a 10-game losing streak.
Other candidates
Also Wednesday, the Bears announced they have completed interviews with Drew Petzing and Anthony Weaver.
Petzing has been the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator the last two seasons. He was previously an assistant for the Minnesota Vikings with Kevin Stefanski before going to Cleveland when Stefanski was named Browns head coach.
Weaver just completed his first season as defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins after three years with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was the defensive line coach and assistant head coach.
Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson figures to be at the top of the Bears’ wish list. Former Seattle Seahawks and USC head coach Pete Carroll, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Washington Commanders offensive coordinator and former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady figure to get looks, as well.
So could Dallas Cowboys and former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, although the Cowboys reportedly denied the Bears permission to interview McCarthy, who is reportedly under contract through Jan. 14. The Cowboys would have to grant permission for any team to interview McCarthy while he’s under contract, but if his contract is allowed to expire, he would be free to interview as he chooses.
The Bears have also requested permission to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator and former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores. Interim Bears head coach Thomas Brown remains in the mix, too, and general manager Ryan Poles said he’s open to the idea of trading draft picks for the right candidate.
Chicago has just three playoff appearances since the 2006 team won the NFC title. The Bears’ lone Super Bowl title came during the 1985 season, and the team is 15-36 in three seasons under Poles.
The Bears thought they were poised to challenge for a postseason spot after a busy offseason, highlighted by drafting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. They also acquired six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers.
But instead of making a playoff push, they went into a freefall after a 4-2 start, losing 10 straight before wrapping up the season with a win over the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Besides firing Eberflus, the Bears have let two offensive coordinators go in the past year. Shane Waldron lasted just nine games after replacing Luke Getsy in the offseason. Brown took over for Waldron before being elevated to interim head coach after Eberflus was fired.