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Former Bears Standout Set to Interview for Head Coach Vacancy

By Richard Louis

Mar 16, 2023; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles speaks during a press conference at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Mar 16, 2023; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles speaks during a press conference at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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The Chicago Bears are one of six head coach openings available. The Bears went 5-12 and fired Matt Eberflus in November. The Bears still struggled immensely under Thomas Brown, and the Bears are casting a wide net to find their new coach.

Candidates have included Mike Kafka, Pete Carroll, Anthony Weaver, Drew Petzing, Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, and Ben Johnson. That list continued to grow and it was reported that former Bears player and coach Ron Rivera will be interviewing for the HC opening this weekend according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

Bears News: Ron Rivera to Interview for Bears HC Position

Rivera played for the Bears from 1984-1992, as Chicago selected him in the second round of the 1984 NFL Draft. He was a part of the Super Bowl XX team. The California native then joined Chicago as a coach for two different stints.

He was a defensive quality control coach from 1997-1998. Rivera was then the defensive coordinator for Chicago from 2004-2006, playing a big role when the Bears made it to Super Bowl XLI.

The 63-year-old has a lot of head coaching experience as well. He was the lead man for the Carolina Panthers from 2011-2019, winning AP Coach of the Year twice (2013 & 2015). Rivera also led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, where they fell 24-10 to the Denver Broncos.

Rivera then landed with the Washington Commanders as HC from 2020-2023. He brings a ton of valuable experience and defensive knowledge to the table.

Back in December, Dan Pompei of The Athletic reported that Rivera was a name to watch for this opening.

While he may not be the No. 1 choice for the Bears, he has been a winner in this league. Rivera owns a 102-103-1 record all-time as a coach, with three playoff appearances. In the postseason, he has gone 6-6.

The Bears are doing a deep dive on multiple candidates and Rivera is the latest person to land an interview.

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