Latest On Steve Wilks
Add the Cardinals to the list of teams looking to get a crack at Panthers DC Steve Wilks, who is arguably this offseason’s hottest head coaching candidate. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Wilks — who is coaching Carolina’s defense in its playoff tilt against the Saints this afternoon — will spend the coming week trying to fit in interviews with Arizona, the Giants, the Lions, and the Colts (Twitter link).
The Cardinals have already interviewed a few candidates for their head coaching gig, including their own DC, James Bettcher, and Patriots’ DC Matt Patricia. But they plan to at least sit down with Wilks to see what the hype is all about.
As Rapoport notes in a brief segment with colleague Mike Garafolo (video link), all four of the above-referenced teams are waiting to hire a new head coach until they have had the chance to meet with Wilks (which is interesting, because we heard just yesterday that the Lions are expected to hire Patricia). Rapoport adds that, despite the fact that the Panthers have fielded an impressive defensive unit this season, it is Wilks’ leadership ability, even more so than his prowess as a defensive coordinator, that has him in such high demand.
Garafalo notes that new Giants GM Dave Gettleman is anxious to get Wilks in front of team ownership, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Wilks will interview with Big Blue on Monday. How many interviews he takes beyond that will depend on the outcome of today’s playoff matchup.
The Bears also requested to interview Wilks, but as of yet, there has been no word as to whether Wilks will meet with Chicago.
Coaching Rumors: Cardinals, Bears, Bengals
After the Titans’ exciting victory over the Chiefs, one has to imagine that coach Mike Mularkey is off the hot seat. Still, there are a number of head coaching vacancies left around the league.
Here are the latest coaching rumors from around the NFL:
- Mike Munchak‘s interview with the Cardinals will take place on Sunday, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
- If hired by the Bears, John DeFilippo would be be willing to retain Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, Peter Schrager of NFL Network (on Twitter) hears. The Bears want Fangio back, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter) adds, but other teams and head coaching candidates are interested in bringing him on staff.
- Linebackers coach Jim Haslett will remain on the Bengals‘ defensive staff, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter). However, Jacob Burney (defensive line) will not be returning, Alex Marvez of The Sporting News tweets.
Bears To Interview Matt Nagy On Sunday
- Chiefs OC Matt Nagy will have a quick turnaround after Saturday’s first-round game. He’s set for interviews with the Bears and Colts on Sunday for those franchises’ respective HC jobs, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. These are the only two teams to which the 39-year-old OC has been connected. He’s finishing out his second season as Kansas City’s OC. Doug Pederson served in that role for three seasons prior to leaving for Philadelphia.
Bears Interview Josh McDaniels, Pat Shurmur
The Bears have interviewed another pair of potential head coaches in offensive coordinators Josh McDaniels and Pat Shurmur, the team announced today. They are the third and fourth candidates that the Bears have spoken to about their vacant head coach post. They have already interviewed current defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards.
McDaniels and Shurmur are the first offensive-minded coaches that the Bears have talked to in this process. Granted they are also set to interview Eagles quarterback coach John DeFilippo and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. DeFilippo is scheduled to meet with the Bears tomorrow with Nagy likely having his meeting next week considering the Chiefs play in their Wild Card game tomorrow. Chicago is also prepared to interview Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks some point soon.
With Mitch Trubisky entering his second-year with the team, many would expect that the Bears would have a lot of interest in pairing him with a coach that could help him grow in his sophomore campaign. However, given their current list of interviewees it seems like the team has a many different types of candidates they are interested in.
Bears Complete George Edwards Interview
The Bears have concluded their head coaching interview with Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards, the club announced today. Chicago is able to interview Edwards given that Minnesota secured a first-round playoff bye, and he’s one of seven candidates to be linked to the Bears’ vacancy. Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks are all being considered for the job alongside Edwards.
Coaching Rumors: Bengals, Cowboys, Colts
A roundup of the latest coaching news and rumors from around the NFL:
- Bengals coach Marvin Lewis announced that the team is parting ways with offensive line coach Paul Alexander. Meanwhile, the team will retain offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and look to keep defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. Guenther is out of contract, meaning that he is free to sign with any team.
- Cowboys special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia will be allowed out of his contract, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). That should pave the way for him to join Jon Gruden‘s Raiders staff. Bisaccia still had some time to go on his deal thanks to the extension he inked back in March.
- Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy confirmed to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that he will interview for the head coaching openings with the Colts and Bears.
- You can keep up with the dizzying number of head coaching interviews using PFR’s up-to-the-minute tracker.
Bears Interview Vic Fangio For HC Job
The Bears announced that they have interviewed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio for their vacant head coaching position today. The interview was conducted by GM Ryan Pace. 
Fangio could have a leg-up on the competition as an in-house candidate. This obviously wasn’t a banner year for the Bears, but Fangio’s defense did manage to finish 14th in league DVOA in 2017, according to Football Outsiders. That’s rather impressive considering the so-so talent that he had to work with and injuries to linebackers Leonard Floyd, Willie Young, and Pernell McPhee.
Fangio joins Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks as known candidates for the job. Fangio could have the inside track, though the team may prefer an offensive-minded coach to work with young quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Bears To Interview Vikings’ George Edwards
The Bears have put in a request to interview Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It seems the interview has already been OK’d as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press hears that it will take place this week. 
The Vikings meeting marks Edwards’ first head coach interview. It stands to reason that he’ll get at least one more given the way his defense has performed this season. However, it seems like he does not have as much hype as Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur because he does not call plays. For what it’s worth, head coach Mike Zimmer doesn’t think that should preclude him from consideration.
“George does everything,” Zimmer said recently. “He helps with the game plan. He runs a lot of the meetings, the defensive meetings. Him and I really sit down and talk about all the different things that are going on. He studies the game just like he’s calling the game. So he’ll come in and talk to me about second down-and-whatever. ‘They’re doing this,’ or, ‘they’re doing that.’ Really, he does everything other than call the game on Sunday.”
As shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Tracker, Shumur and Josh McDaniels will interview with the Bears on Friday. The team may look to fit Edwards in on Saturday. Others up for consideration in Chicago include Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFillippo, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and Panthers DC Steve Wilks.
2018 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
Several NFL teams are currently hunting for a new head coach, and amidst reports about interview requests and potential candidates, it’s easy to lose track of the latest updates in the shuffle. So we’ll use this space – which will be updated until every team has hired a new head coach – to keep track of the most recent news and rumors. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”
Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here’s the current breakdown:
Updated 2-11-18 (2:35pm CT)
Arizona Cardinals
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Hired
- Keith Armstrong, special teams coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed on 1/8; interviewed for a second time on 1/19
- James Bettcher, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed on 1/3
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/5; expected to receive second interview
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6; expected to receive second interview
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Interviewed on 1/7; declined to take second interview
Chicago Bears
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Hired
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/6
- George Edwards, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Interviewed on 1/3
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Requested interview
Detroit Lions
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Winston Moss, assistant head coach/LBs (Packers): Interviewed on 1/4
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/3
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Declined to be interviewed
Indianapolis Colts
Second search
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Hired
- Dan Campbell, tight ends coach (Saints): Interviewed on 2/8
- Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed on 2/10
- Dave Toub, special teams coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
Original search
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Announced as head coach; rejected position
- Kris Richard, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/6
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed on 1/7
- Matt Rhule, head coach (Baylor): Interviewed; withdrew from consideration
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): No longer scheduled to interview
New York Giants
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Dark horse candidate?
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interview put on hold
- Steve Spagnuolo, interim head coach/DC (Giants): Interviewed on 1/3
- Eric Studesville, former assistant head coach/RBs (Broncos): Interviewed on 1/10
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/9
Oakland Raiders
- Jon Gruden, ESPN commentator: Hired
- Bobby Johnson, tight ends coach (Raiders): Interviewed
- Tee Martin, offensive coordinator (USC): Interviewed
Tennessee Titans
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed on 1/19
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/18
Bears Notes: Shurmur, Washburn
Pat Shurmur will be a busy man this week. The Vikings offensive coordinator has four interviews lined up in the coming days, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com: in addition to his previously reported Thursday meeting with the Lions, Shurmur will interview with the Cardinals (Thursday), Bears (Friday), and Giants (Saturday). Shurmur is currently linked to four vacancies in the NFL, tied with Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for tops among candidates. Given that Minnesota has secured a first-round playoff bye, Shurmur is free to interview as he chooses this week.
- ESPN analyst Jon Gruden appears set to become the next Raiders head coach, and he’s reportedly been contacting potential staff members for weeks. Two of those coaches may be Rams quarterbacks coach Greg Olson and Bears offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn, per Alex Marvez of the Sporting News (Twitter links). Gruden is also reportedly interested in Jets OC John Morton and Bengals DC Paul Guenther.