The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick in the draft and could choose USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
They are reportedly interested in a coach with direct connections to the signal-caller.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Bears plan on interviewing Kliff Kingsbury for their vacant offensive coordinator position. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later confirmed Schultz’s report, noting the interview will take place on Friday.
Kingsbury was a senior offensive analyst for the Trojans last season and worked directly with Williams.
While Kingsbury is a notable name, he is far from the only candidate.
NBC Sports Chicago noted the Bears interviewed Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles senior offensive assistant Marcus Brady, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, Seahawks quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen and San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak.
The Bears are doing their due diligence for an important decision, and Schultz noted Kingsbury’s interview will be on Friday.
Any offensive coordinator decision Chicago makes will be viewed through the prism of the quarterback choice it is facing.
The Bears have that No. 1 pick because of a trade they made with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. They were 7-10 this season and were not officially eliminated from playoff contention until Week 17.
Justin Fields has been an electrifying runner through the first three seasons of his career and showed some progress as a passer in 2023. Under normal circumstances, he’d be entering a make-or-break 2024 season with Chicago given the fifth-year option on his contract that is looming.
However, having the No.1 pick with a team that is arguably only a couple of pieces away from being a playoff roster is not normal circumstances.
If the Bears view Williams as a can’t-miss generational type of prospect, they could trade Fields and restart the quarterback position with a new rookie contract. Or if they decide they want to continue building around Fields, they could trade that No. 1 pick for a haul in return, much like they did last season with the Panthers.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic pointed out the Kingsbury interview could be part of the decision-making process even if he isn’t the coordinator Chicago hires.
