(670 The Score) The Bears have completed an interview with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for their head coaching vacancy, the team announced Thursday.
Weaver, 44, recently finished his first season leading the Dolphins' defense. Miami was 10th in scoring defense and fourth in total defense in the 2024 season under Weaver's direction.
Weaver entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2012 as the Jets' assistant defensive line coach. He has worked as a defensive line coach, run game coordinator, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator over stops with six NFL teams.
A standout defensive end at Notre Dame, Weaver was a second-round pick of the Ravens back in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played seven seasons in the league for Baltimore (2002-'05) and Houston (2006-'08).
The Bears have a head coach opening after firing Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29. That marked the first ever in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles – who has been retained for a fourth season in his position – is considered the “point man” in this coaching search, team president/CEO Kevin Warren said.
Poles will be joined in the search process by Warren, chairman George McCaskey, senior director of player personnel Jeff King, director of football administration Matt Feinstein and chief human resources officer Liz Geist. The Bears may also include members of their senior leadership team in the interview process. Eleven individuals hold titles of executive vice president or senior vice president.
The Bears have stated their intention to conduct a wide-ranging coaching search. Poles began the process shortly after firing Eberflus, starting by gathering background information and making phone calls to gather intel on potential candidates.
“We're looking for clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good game management and obviously a plan to develop a quarterback is going to be a key part of that as well,” Poles said. “We're going to cast a wide net. It's going to be a diverse group. 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. In terms of timing, we're going to move with urgency, but we're not going to rush the process.
“We want it to be a sound process.”
As of Thursday midday, the Bears had interviewed former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and now Weaver for their head coaching job.
Former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and current Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka are each expected to interview later Thursday.
All of the Bears' first round of interviews with coaching candidates are set to be conducted virtually.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.