Kingsbury anticipated to interview for Bears’ OC job, sources say

CHICAGO — Former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury is anticipated to interview for the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator opening, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.

Kingsbury is the ninth recognized candidate the Bears have requested to interview, becoming a member of an inventory that features Shane Waldron, Greg Olson, Klint Kubiak, Liam Coen, Greg Roman, Thomas Brown, Marcus Brady and Zac Robinson.

The Bears fired former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and 4 members of the offensive employees Jan. 10 and started their seek for a alternative instantly. Chicago ranked second in dashing however twenty seventh in passing offense in 2023.

Kingsbury, who was fired by the Cardinals after 4 seasons (2019-2022), returned to the school ranks in 2023 as a senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach for USC. Caleb Williams, the previous Trojans quarterback who declared for the NFL draft this week, is projected to be the primary participant taken.

The Bears are in possession of the No. 1 general decide for a second consecutive 12 months after sending final 12 months’s high choice to the Carolina Panthers for large receiver DJ Moore and 4 draft picks. The Panthers completed with a league-worst 2-15 file, which secured the No. 1 general decide for Chicago. The Bears additionally can be drafting at No. 9 after ending 7-10.

Williams, 22, received the Heisman Trophy in 2022 after throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns and dashing for 10 TDs. He threw for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 11 touchdowns this previous season at USC. He introduced his resolution to enter the NFL draft Monday.

“I nonetheless have quite a bit to be taught and I am able to do no matter it takes,” Williams wrote on Instagram. “As a child, I stated that is what I used to be going to do for the remainder of my life, however I did not work this tough simply to achieve this level. I’ll proceed my journey to make that little child happy with the person I can be for a few years to come back.”

Chicago faces a significant resolution: Ought to it use the No. 1 general decide on Williams or one other rookie or transfer ahead with quarterback Justin Fields, who’s coming into his fourth season? Common supervisor Ryan Poles stated the Bears are in “information-gathering mode” relating to their plans for the No. 1 general decide, and are staying “large open” in contemplating many eventualities.

“We’ve got a extremely distinctive draft scenario that’s going to permit us to proceed to get higher,” Poles stated.

Kingsbury’s first season with the Cardinals coincided with the group utilizing the No. 1 general decide on quarterback Kyler Murray in 2019. Murray threw for a career-best 3,971 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2020, however his greatest season got here in 12 months 3 beneath Kingsbury when the Cardinals completed 11-6 and misplaced to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams within the wild-card spherical.

Kingsbury, 44, compiled a 28-37-1 regular-season file in 4 seasons with the Cardinals and went 0-1 within the playoffs.