DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Jim Caldwell of the Detroit Lions watches his team against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell continues to gain steam for the Chicago Bears heading coaching job, and another report confirms he’s a finalist.
The Chicago Bears are one of the interviews former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell has had, perhaps leading to the rejection of other interviews despite his refuting that report. On Monday morning Albert Breer of SI.com pointed to Caldwell as a finalist for the Bears job.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bears are set to request second interviews with Caldwell and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus will have his second interview on Wednesday, and New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will have his first interview with the Bears on Tuesday.
Breer tabbed Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier as a finalist for the Bears’ job as well, but a second interview apparently has not be requested with him yet.
Jim Caldwell might be down to the Bears head coaching job or nothing
Caldwell also interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching job, and to this point that’s the only other team he has interviewed with. In his refutal of ESPN’s report he turned down interview requests from the Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders, Caldwell clearly insinuated no such requests had been made.
Caldwell has been out of coaching since a very brief stint as Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach in 2019, as a health concern led to him stepping away. That health situation appears to no longer be a situation, and a coach who has been a head coach in a Super Bowl (with the Colts) and coordinated an offense for a Super Bowl MVP (Joe Flacco) is back in the mix.
Caldwell had a winning record in three of his four seasons as Lions head coach from 2014-2017 (36-28 overall), with two playoff appearances. If he doesn’t get the Bears’ head coaching job, he may still land somewhere as a quarterbacks coach or an offensive coordinator if he wants it and there’s an opportunity.