Sources – Ex-Seahawks coach Pete Carroll interested in Bears job

Seattle Seahawks Super-Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll has expressed interest in the Chicago Bears head coaching job and would like to return to the sidelines next season, league sources told ESPN.

Carroll is one of four head coaches to have led teams to both a national championship and the Super Bowl. The others are Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Harbaugh.

Three teams — the Bears, Jets and Saints — are looking for a head coach to help reset their culture. Few coaches have been more effective than Carroll at doing just that.

The Bears fired Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29, one day after a 23-20 loss to the Lions that ended with the Bears’ furious comeback attempt falling short thanks to clock mismanagement. Thomas Brown, who had recently been named Chicago’s interim offensive coordinator, assumed Chicago’s interim head coaching duties.

Carroll helped mold USC into a national champion, then went to Seattle and, over a run that lasted 14 seasons, led the Seahawks to 10 playoff appearances, two conference championships and the franchise’s only Super Bowl victory.

Last January, the Seahawks announced that Carroll was out as head coach. At the time, owner Jody Allen said in a statement that Carroll would remain with the team as an advisor. Later that month, Seattle hired former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as head coach.

In recent weeks, Carroll has begun discussing a return to the NFL and is now interested in doing so. He hasn’t spoken to any teams yet, according to sources, but he would welcome the chance.

Although Carroll is 73, anyone who knows him knows he has more energy than most.

“I get asked a lot, so I’m pretty comfortable saying I could practice tomorrow,” Carroll said on 93.9 KJR last August. “I’m physically in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. I’m ready to be ready to do all the activities I do and feel really good about it. I could, but I don’t want to on this time.”

This was said before this NFL season started. Since then, Carroll has changed his mind and said he is ready to attack the grind again if given the opportunity.

Chicago, with former USC quarterback Caleb Williams, is appealing to Carroll, according to sources.

The Bears are preparing to host Carroll’s former Seahawks team Thursday night in Chicago.

A legendary coach has returned to the game in recent weeks, with Bill Belichick accepting the head coaching job at North Carolina. Now Carroll is looking to be the next to return.