CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears recently conducted virtual interviews for their head coaching role with Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, and Aaron Glenn, their defensive coordinator. These discussions took place as the Lions gear up for the playoffs, having secured the top seed in the NFC with an impressive record of 15 wins and 2 losses, giving them a bye this weekend.

Ben Johnson has been with the Lions for three seasons, distinguishing himself as an effective offensive mind. Under his guidance, Detroit’s offense was prolific this year, leading the league in points scored per game and ranking second in both passing yards and total offensive yards.

On the defensive side, Aaron Glenn is in his fourth season as the defensive coordinator for Detroit. His unit performed admirably this season, finishing seventh in the league for points allowed and excelling by placing third in defensive pass yards allowed per game.

Prior to these interviews, the Bears met with several potential candidates, including former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Drew Petzing, who serves as the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, Anthony Weaver, the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, and Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator for the New York Giants. Additionally, they spoke with Mike Vrabel, the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

The Chicago Bears are currently in search of a new head coach to fill the vacancy left by Matt Eberflus, who was let go after the team struggled to a 4-8 record, marking their sixth consecutive loss. The team continued to struggle, ultimately finishing the season on a ten-game losing streak, ending with a record of 5-12 and placing last in the NFC North division.