Former Lions QB raises questions at Pete Carroll trying out for Bears' head coach role

After a disappointing 2024 campaign under coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired midway through the season, the Chicago Bears are adamant about wanting to hire the right man to help quarterback Caleb Williams fulfill his potential and also turn the franchise into a juggernaut.

They have the longest list of candidates of any team looking for a new coach this offseason as they look to leave no stone unturned in finding the ideal candidate. Earlier this week, they interviewed former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who isn't on the wishlist of many franchises.

However, Dan Orlovsky believes the 73-year-old coach could be the answer for the Bears as long as he helps improve their defense. On Thursday's episode of NFL Live, the former Detroit Lions quarterback said:

"I remain adamant that the best thing you can give a young quarterback in the NFL is a very good defense... You want to give a young quarterback the structure of, 'Hey, you don't have to score 28 to 35 points for us to win the game.' Then you can build them up. So can Pete Carroll come to Chicago and get this defense to play at a high level?"

Orlovsky added that the Bears not only have to focus on hiring the right coach but also the best offensive coordinator:

"And the second thing, and this is as important as Pete Carroll: Who is your offensive coordinator? It can't be the philosophical stuff of the past... It has to be something that's 100% perfect for Caleb Williams."

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Bears coach candidates: Chicago's extensive list

The Bears' front office doesn't have a vision of what their philosophy as a team would be and whether they wanted an offensive or defensive-minded coach.

Instead, they are reverse-engineering the project. They are interviewing several offensive and defensive coordinators and former coaches to ensure that they land the best candidate before deciding the team's direction.

Apart from Pete Carroll, they have interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel for the coaching vacancy. They have also scheduled meetings with Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing, Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady, Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken, Pittsburgh Steelers OC Arthur Smith, New York Giants OC Mike Kafka. Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn, Miami Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores and Broncos senior personnel executive David Shaw are also among them.

The Bears' coaching hunt is the most extensive of any team in recent memory. It remains to be seen who emerges as the victor.