The Chicago Bears have reached out to at least 15 general manager and 11 coaching candidates for interviews. As they go through the process, we’re looking at each of the prospects.
Todd Bowles interviewed for the head coaching position Saturday, the team announced.
<mark class=”hl_orange”>Todd Bowles</mark>
Age: 58
Title: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Experience
Bowles went 24-40 in his first go-around as a head coach with the New York Jets from 2015-18. The Jets went 10-6 but missed the playoffs during his first season but then finished in last place in the AFC East each of the next three years. Bowles has been the Bucs defensive coordinator the last two seasons. He was in the same role for the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 and 2014, also under head coach Bruce Arians, whom he played for at Temple in the 1980s. Since entering the NFL as a secondary coach for the Jets in 2000, Bowles has spent time coaching with seven NFL teams.
You should know
It wasn’t only Tom Brady who propelled the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title last season. Bowles’ work overseeing the defense was valuable to the championship journey. After inheriting one of the league’s worst defenses when he was hired in 2019, Bowles turned the Bucs’ fortunes around. In 2020, the Buccaneers had the league’s top rushing defense and finished fourth in sacks (48) and fifth in takeaways (29). Bowles’ unit is in the top 10 of those latter two categories again this season.
Chicago connection
This is Bowles’ second time interviewing for the Bears head coaching opening. He also did so in 2015, interviewing with Ryan Pace, who was officially hired as GM the same day he led the organization’s discussion with Bowles. Bowles admitted to Bears reporters in 2018 the whole experience was a bit odd: “I knew (Ryan) wasn’t going to hire a head coach on the first interview of the first meeting when he just walked in the building. It was just kind of strange that it happened.”
What has been said
“He is exceptional at what he does. I’ve had a tremendous amount of respect over the years for not only (what he does) schematically. He does some cool stuff and he (gives the) quarterback some problems. … I’ve always respected, probably more than anything, how hard his guys play for him.” — Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, before the Jets and Bucs met last month