Report: Jim Caldwell appears to be a finalist for Chicago Bears head coaching job

There’s been enough buzz to suggest it’s the case, but Jim Caldwell appears to truly be a finalist for the Chicago Bears’ head coaching job.

Whether he has turned down other interview requests or not, former Lions head coach Jim Caldwell interviewed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job and he appears to be a strong candidate.

According to Albert Breer of SI.com/MMQB, Caldwell appears to be a finalist for the Bears job.

"The Bears’ Bill Polian/Tony Dungy–connected candidates—Jim Caldwell, Leslie Frazier and Colts DC Matt Eberflus—have emerged as top names in Chicago."

As Breer alluded to, former Colts general manager Bill Polian has a lead role in Chicago’s searches for a new general manager and head coach. Caldwell stepped in as Colts head coach in place of Tony Dungy in 2009 when Polian was there, and went to a Super Bowl in his first season.

Breer also mentions general manager candidate Ryan Poles, who has second interviews with the Bears and the Minnesota Vikings this week, has been in touch with a number of candidates for the Bears and Vikings head coaching jobs–Caldwell included.

"and Poles has been in touch with a number of other candidates for the Vikings and Bears jobs (Caldwell is one, Quinn, Todd Bowles and Kevin O’Connell are others)"

Caldwell has been mentioned as a candidate for the Vikings. But, as he refuted the report suggesting he turned down opportunities to talk to the Vikings and the Raiders, the former Lions coach strongly insinuated Minnesota has not even made a request to interview him. That of course could change quickly when a general manager is hired, and it seems the Vikings will have one in place this week.

With Leslie Frazier and Matt Eberflus surfacing as the other prominent finalists, and Brian Flores likely still somewhere in the mix too, there’s enough buzz attaching Caldwell to the Bears that he might just get the job and be back in the NFC North next season.