Bear Digest

Chicago Bears Coaching Search Tracker: The Pete Carroll Rumor

What's been said, rumored and analyzed about the Bears' search for another head coach to date through Chicago Bears On SI, updated periodically.

Gene Chamberlain

Former Seattle coach Pete Carroll, 73, is reported to have expressed interest in the Bears job.
Former Seattle coach Pete Carroll, 73, is reported to have expressed interest in the Bears job. / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
In this story:

The Bears coaching search will not officially begin until after the Bears and Packers have completed the NFL season Jan. 5 at Lambeau Field.

Until then it exists only in the shadows—the rumor mill.

There hasn't been one sourced report yet saying they definitely are inteviewing a specific candidate for the job and it's unlikely anything will get beyond rumors until after the last game and before they are allowed to start their interviews on Jan. 8.

All the talk about Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel and others so far is essentially speculation. They can't talk to these candidates until the season ends or face tampering charges.

However, a potential candidate who is not in football now is always a possible interview. ESPN's Adam Schefter on Christmas reported former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has "expressed interest in the Bears HC job." Carroll is 73 years old, older than Bill Belichick.

However, there were reports within the past few days indicating the possibility Bears and Johnson could be in touch when teams are allowed to set up and interview candidates.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Sunday in pregame said sources led him to believe Johnson would have an interest in talking to the Bears about their job. On Monday, ESPN's Courtney Cronin credited a source with saying the Bears will want to talk with Johnson.

These did not involve direct ties saying there will be an interview yet. Even Vrabel is tied up now even though he lost the Tennessee coaching job after last season, as he is a contracted advisor to the Cleveland Browns for this season.

The Bears will be getting everything in order for their search now, talking to people who know potenital candidates who could be on their long list before they decide to shorten it up and begin the interviews after the season.

The process described by president Kevin Warren puts GM Ryan Poles in the driver's seat, although it's going to need Warren's approval and ultimately George McCaskey will have a chance to weigh in on it.

It was never made clear whether they'll be using a search firm of any type to either come up with their list or for any other aspect. Poles was asked at the Matt Eberflus firing press conference and wasn't specific, although they seemed to be leaning toward handling it in-house.

“We have not made that decision right now," he said. "We are going to lean on both of us and our entire organization, everyone in that think tank and make sure we make the best decision.”

Here's what the rumor mill has churned up and it will be updated.

Bears Coaching Rumor Mill

DEC. 22: NFL NETWORK REPORT SAYS BEN JOHNSON WOULD BE INTERESTED

Earlier

THE LOWDOWN ON COORDINATOR BEN JOHNSON RELATIVE TO THE BEARS

BEN JOHNSON ADMITS TO BEING IMPRESSED WITH CALEB WILLIAMS' ARM

BREER: BEN JOHNSON CRITERIA FOR POTENTIAL COACHING OPPORTUNITIES

WHO SHOULD BE REALLY HIGH ON BEARS LIST OF CANDIDATES

WHY HIRING BEN JOHNSON WOULDN'T MEAN HIRING MATT NAGY 2

INSIDER'S TAKE POINTS BEARS MORE TO MIKE VRABEL

WEEKEND WITHOUT A BEARS GAME PUT POTENTIAL COACHES ON DISPLAY

CONOR ORR: TOP CANDIDATES LIST FOR BEARS HEAD COACHING JOB

THE PROBLEMS WITH JOE BRADY AS BETTING FAVORITE FOR BEARS COACH

WHY LIAM COEN DESERVES THOROUGH CONSIDERATION FOR BEARS COACH

WHO BILL BELICHICK'S CONFIDANTS SAW AS THE LIKELY BEARS COACH

FORMER CARDINALS COACH RUMORED TO BE BEARS POTENTIAL CANDIDATE

WHY THOMAS BROWN RATES A SOLID CHANCE TO RETAIN BEARS COACHING JOB

NFL RULES FOR CONDUCTING BEARS COACHING SEARCH: NOTHING WILL HAPPEN YET

Twitter: BearsOnSI

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.