Current, Former Vikings Coaches To Interview For Bears Job

Our division rivals, the Chicago Bears, are still searching for a new head coach after firing Lovie Smith a week ago. It appears that Bears' GM Phil Emery wants to interview every possible candidate, and a few folks that either have or had connections to the Minnesota Vikings have been mentioned.

Starting with former Vikings coaches, current Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is rumored to be someone that the Bears are interested in. Bevell, who was the Vikings' offensive coordinator under Brad Childress from 2006 to 2010, moved on to Seattle in 2011. He's credited with the fairly rapid development of Seahawks' rookie quarterback Russell Wilson. The Bears received permission to interview Bevell, but with the Seahawks still alive in the NFL playoffs, no date for an interview has been set yet.

One of the more surprising names that has come up was current Minnesota Vikings' special teams coach Mike Priefer. Priefer, who did a great job with Blair Walsh this season and has shaped the Vikings' kick and punt return units into some of the league's best. I don't say that it's unusual because I think Priefer is an unworthy candidate. . .I say that it's unusual because the Bears have their own standout special teams coach in Dave Toub, a man that has been rumored for head coaching jobs in the past. You would think that if the Bears wanted to go with a special teams coach that they could just promote the man they already have.

The last one comes completely out of left field. . .that being current Vikings' coach Mike Singletary. Now, don't get me wrong. . .I get that Singletary is a Chicago legend and all of that. But he's already bombed out as an NFL head coach once and, quite frankly, I'm not even sure what the heck his role is with the Vikings' coaching staff at this point. He's not the linebackers coach. . .former Defensive Coordinator Fred Pagac took that job after being demoted from DC after the 2011 season. His title is "Special Assistant to the Head Coach." Whatever that is. At this point, he could be answering the phones at Winter Park.

I don't think the Vikings are in danger of losing Priefer or anything, and if the Bears want to take Singletary off of Minnesota's hands. . .well, wonderful. Let's make that happen.

Personally, if I were the Bears. . .and I'm not, but if I were. . .I'd be looking to a different coach that has a connection to the Vikings, that being Marc Trestman. Trestman played most of his college ball at the University of Minnesota, and was the Vikings' quarterbacks coach in 1990 and 1991. Most recently, he has been coaching the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, and has had some pretty good success, including back-to-back Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010. The Bears announced a few days ago that they would, in fact, be interviewing Trestman. . .if they're looking for an offensive-minded, quarterback-friendly coach, I certainly think they could do worse.