The Chicago Bears are taking their time and interviewing a long list of names for their head coaching vacancy.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel appear to be near the top of the list. Still, the Bears have plenty of time until at least Jan. 20, when Ben Johnson would be eligible to interview in person with the Bears if the Lions lose in the divisional round.
The Bears aren’t just looking for NFL coaches. Chicago requested an interim with former Stanford head coach and current Denver Broncos senior personnel executive David Shaw.
Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is a candidate
Per Brad Biggs with the Chicago Tribune, the Bears are set to meet with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell.
“The team is expected to meet with Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, according to multiple sources,” Biggs wrote. “Campbell, 45, has been the Cyclones coach since 2016, and his name has popped up previously for jobs not only at more traditional college powers, but also in the NFL.”
Campbell was a candy for the Lions in 2021.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is expected to interview for #Bears job.https://t.co/AWRDZYB4gt
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 8, 2025
Campbell played college football for Pittsburgh and Mount Union as a defensive lineman. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with Bowling Green in 2003-04. The native of Massillon, Ohio, had stints as an assistant with Mount Union, Bowling Green, and Toledo before taking the head coaching job for the Rockets in 2012.
The Chicago Bears have some questions to ask
Campbell went 35-15 during his time as head coach of Toledo. He left the Rockets to become the head coach of Iowa State before the 2016 season.
After a 3-9 campaign in his inaugural season, Campbell has led the Cyclones to seven winning seasons in the last eight years. He’s 64-51 during his time in Ames.
Campbell has earned three Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.
He’s also struggled in key games.
Iowa State was a playoff contender in 2024 before they were upset 23-22 by an unranked Texas Tech team at Jack Trice Stadium on Nov. 2. The Cyclones would lose to Kansas 45-36 in their next game.
Iowa State would battle through their Big 12 schedule to make the Big 12 championship. However, the Arizona State Sun Devils completely outclassed Iowa State 45-19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, killing Campbell’s hopes of earning an automatic College Football Payoff bid.
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