The Bears’ head coaching search includes a number of names from various backgrounds in the NFL. At least one candidate currently in the college ranks is set to receive a look as well. 
Matt Campbell is expected to interview with the Bears, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports. Campbell remains in place as head coach at Iowa State, the posting he had during his most recent NFL interview process. The 45-year-old met with the Lions as part of their 2021 head coaching search.
Detroit reportedly made Campbell an eight-year, $68.5MM offer, but indications emerged soon after that it was only Dan Campbell who was ever offered the job. The latter is still in place, of course, but the Bears’ efforts of catching up to the Lions includes their ongoing search for a new coach. General manager Ryan Poles is leading the way, and he recently confirmed a wide range of coaches will be considered.
“It’s going to be a diverse group,” Poles said (via Biggs). “This will be different backgrounds from offense, defense, special teams, college, pro. We’re turning every stone to make sure we’re doing this the right way. There’s going to be some names that you don’t expect that are going to surprise you because we’re digging deeper than we ever have before.”
Considering the prior interest he drew, though, Campbell is of course not a complete unknown as far as head coaching candidates go. He took on Toledo’s full-time HC position in 2012 and spent five years with the program, posting a 35-15 record. Campbell then moved on to Iowa State, where he has finished with a losing record only twice in nine seasons. The Cyclones’ best campaign to date under Campbell came in 2024, where they went 11-3 en route to the Big 12 title game. It will be interesting to see if that success yields renewed NFL interest aside from Chicago.
Via PFR’s head coaching tracker, here is an updated look at the Bears’ search:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Expressed interest
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interview expected
- Matt Campbell, head coach (Iowa State): Interview expected
- Pete Carroll, former head coach (Seahawks): To interview 1/9
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interview requested
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/11
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): To interview 1/11
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): To interview 1/9
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Interview expected
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Interview blocked
- Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
- Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator (Cardinals): To interview 1/8
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interview requested
- Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator (Steelers): Interview requested
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interviewed 1/8
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interview requested
17 interviews and seems to be growing. That can’t really be all that productive. I’m surprised the top guys keep coming around with all that nonsense going on. This isn’t a Head Coach interview process as much as a Cattle Call for a Harry Potter movie
It’s clear it’s a 4 man race to Chicago HC in order 1) B.Johnson,David Shaw,Mike Vrable,maybe Kliff Kingsbury All (4) would make the city go into a fizzy rabid animal. Maybe coach Lovie as an advisor on DEFENSE Not the DC .
What they did by firing him because of shock jocks on pod cast & radio shows cost him his job WE ARE NOT IN PHILLY WHERE THEY TAKE PRIDE IN GETTING COACHES FIRED. OMG what 10 win coach get treated like that after a Superbowl a year earlier.
Marty Schottenheimer
As Hawk would say” He Gone!”.
for the love of God..NO MORE MATTS!!
This hiring cycle is about fixing mistakes . .. Chicago is gonna roll with Kliff Kingsbury Who’d already be their head coach, if they hired him instead of Waldron.
A.G is headed to the Saints. Who should have hired him instead of Dennis “already wrecked Carr” Allen to run it back
Shad tried to go new(ish)and innovative, got the Trainwreck that was Urban, had to hire someone with experience to regain some credibility, it came but the wins didn’t, so to fix that mistake
The Jags are gonna hire Ben Johnson and Lance Newmark
The Raiders feel like they had the right idea with McDaniels, just the wrong guy. They fired him but fell into the “interm coach” is our guy trap and didn’t hire the right guy to continue “The NE Raider way”
to fix that mistake the Raiders are gonna hire Mike Vrabel..
Robert Kraft is at home thinking his mistake was hiring from within, full well knowing the Belicheck tree doesn’t bear fruit , but since it was in Mayo’s contract,(he had to get that out of the way).. he’s thinking I should have replaced a legend, with a legend. So to fix that mistake Kraft hires Pete Carroll..
Woody sees this and gets mad, his “mistake” was hiring all those 49ers, he’s gonna reach back into the well. “Kraft wants a legend, I got one too” remember when we used to beat the Patriots and Buffalo, oh his guy sure does! To fix his “mistake” the Jets are gonna hire Rex Ryan..
Apparently the Bears are interested in anyone who can make a good soup 🙂
The Bears head coaching dragnet is at a comical point. It’s up to 15 interviews if all of these guys accept to an interview. Poles is going to blow an engine. It’s going to be paralysis by over analysis. My thoughts. Pick your top 6, whoever they are. If you can’t determine at least a top 6 candidate pool they it’s abundantly clear you have no idea or direction on how or who you want to build your football team.