Colts DC Matt Eberflus added to Bears coaching search

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The Chicago Bears continue to add names to its list of head coaching candidates.

The latest addition is Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus who the team has formally requested to interview during its head coaching search this offseason, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Eberflus, 51, has spent the last four seasons in Indianapolis and has drawn interest in the past for other NFL head coaching vacancies.

He interviewed for the Cleveland Browns' head coaching position in 2019 and drew interest from three NFL teams -- the Houston Texans, the Los Angeles Chargers and the New York Jets -- last offseason.

Pelissero reported Eberflus has also drawn attention from the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. The Jaguars fired Urban Meyer in December after 13 games and have yet to name his replacement.

The Bears fired former head coach Matt Nagy on Monday, which leaves Chicago with one of the NFL's five head coaching vacancies.

In addition to the Bears and Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings are all looking to make new hires at head coach for 2022. The Las Vegas Raiders could also be in the market if they elect not to retain interim head coach Rich Bisaccia after their postseason run concludes.

The Bears have already requested several interviews with possible coaching candidates, including Buffalo Bills OC Brian Daboll and former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.

Ryan Pace fired as Bears GM

Nagy wasn't the only leader that Chicago let go Monday. GM Ryan Pace was relieved of his duties giving the Bears two vacancies at the top of their organization.

Monday night it was reported that the Bears would interview Indianapolis Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown for the opening left by Pace.

Brown and Eberflus coming from the same organization shows that the Bears' brass sees something worth liking in Indianapolis.

Bears chairman George McCaskey said after Nagy and Pace's dismissal that one of the contributing factors was the team's recent performance against teams with a record above .500. The Bears were 9-20 in such contests.

“Over four seasons, we beat the teams we were expected to beat,” McCaskey said. “Too often, though, we didn’t beat the better teams and you have to do that to excel in this league.”

During the 2021 NFL season, the Colts won four games over teams that made this year's postseason -- perhaps one of the reasons why McCaskey and the Bears' leadership is looking toward the Indianapolis model to possibly help Chicago build a stronger future.

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