Report: Bears have 4 head coach candidates on their shortlist

The coaching carousel is still a few weeks away from spinning for the Chicago Bears, but that doesn't mean they aren't already doing their homework. Nearly a week and a half after the Bears relieved Matt Eberflus of his head coaching duties, the front office is already putting together a plan to find their next coach, and a report indicates they may have a shortlist of candidates ready to go.

According to long-time Chicago radio personality Dan McNeil, who hosts a podcast for Bet Rivers these days, the Bears have four candidates on their list to be their next head coach: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. This also comes on the heels of a report from the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs that the team has "started talking to people behind the scenes, laying the groundwork for future discussions with candidates they want to be part of the process."

The candidates McNeill listed aren't terribly surprising. Johnson is far and away the hottest name, thanks to the work he's done with the Lions offense. Brady is another young offensive mind who has seen a lot of football already and is doing well handling Buffalo's offense.

Flores, meanwhile, has head coaching experience from his days with the Miami Dolphins, but things ended poorly. Since then, however, he's turned the Vikings defense into a formidable unit. Vrabel has the most experience of anyone at the head coaching ranks, compiling a 54-45 record with the Titans that includes three playoff appearances.

It's interesting that the Bears would go after two different types of head coaches. There are two young offensive minds and two defensive-focused men with prior experience. This list also isn't the end-all, be-all, seeing as there are still a few weeks until interviews can begin, but it's a glimpse into what team president Kevin Warren and general manager Ryan Poles are thinking. It also helps hearing that the team is willing to spend whatever it takes to bring in the right hire, as noted by Biggs.

We'll see who else gets attached to this job and what other coaches might become available at the end of the season. For now, though, it seems as if the Bears are laying the foundation for their next coaching search, one that is critical at this juncture for Poles and quarterback Caleb Williams.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Report: Bears have 4 head coach candidates on their shortlist