Former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell is in some demand this hiring cycle, and he reportedly turned down two interviews.
Former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell has resurfaced for another chance at a head coaching job, and he has interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears. But he apparently could have had (at least) two more interviews.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano (via an ESPN Insider story, h/t to Bears Wire), Caldwell turned down interview requests from the Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings this week.
According to multiple sources, the Raiders and Vikings both reached out to former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell this week to request to interview him, and he declined both requests. This indicates strongly that Caldwell believes he will get one of the other open jobs, and my understanding is that he’s in the mix in both Chicago and Jacksonville and already is reaching out to candidates for his staff.
If I had to bet right now, I’d say Caldwell ends up in Chicago, where former Colts general manager Bill Polian is helping direct the search, though it’s obviously interesting that Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is scheduled for a second interview there.
Jim Caldwell is being choosy with his next head coaching opportunity, if he gets one
Caldwell sort of felt interesting as an option for the Vikings, and the Raiders are the only playoff team looking for a new head coach. But both also have incumbent quarterbacks with remarkably similar (low) ceilings, while the Jaguars and Bears at least have the promise of a young quarterback as a point in their corners.
So if Caldwell gets a third shot at being a head coach in 2022, it looks like it’ll be in Chicago or Jacksonville. He hasn’t surfaced as a candidate for any of the unmentioned openings (Dolphins, Giants, etc.), and if he doesn’t get the Bears or Jaguars job in the coming days or weeks it’s worth wondering if that third chance will ever come.