(670 The Score) Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady had an interview with the Bears on Friday for their head coaching job, the team confirmed.
Brady, 35, also interviewed with the Saints on Friday for their head coach position. He took over as the Bills’ offensive coordinator on an interim basis during the 2023 season and was promoted to the full-time role in early 2024.
Brady rose to prominence in 2019 as the passing game coordinator at LSU, helping guide a prolific offense with future NFL stars in quarterback Joe Burrow, receiver Ja’Marr Chase and receiver Justin Jefferson as the Tigers won the national championship.
Brady was hired by the Panthers in 2020 as their offensive coordinator and spent two seasons in that role. After the dismissal of Carolina’s coaching staff, Brady was hired in Buffalo as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach ahead of the 2022 season.
The Bills ranked second in scoring and 10th in total offense in the 2024 regular season. Brady has been a key figure in working with star quarterback Josh Allen, who's an MVP candidate this season.
The Bills will host the Ravens in an AFC divisional round game Sunday evening in Buffalo.
The Bears have an opening after firing former head coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29, marking the franchise’s first in-season dismissal of a head coach.
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.”
Brady is the 14th known candidate the Bears have interviewed as of Friday night. They've also interviewed interim head coach Thomas Brown, former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, former Stanford coach David Shaw, former Panthers and Commanders coach Ron Rivera, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who has since accepted an offer to become the Patriots' new head coach.
The Bears have one of six remaining coaching vacancies still open. The Cowboys, Jets, Saints, Raiders and Jaguars each have positions available as well.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.