The Bears on Friday interviewed Jeff Ireland for their general manager position and Brian Flores for their head-coaching job.
Prior to joining the Saints, Ireland spent six seasons as Dolphins general manager from 2008-13. Inheriting a team that went 1-15 in 2007, Ireland helped Miami rebound to win the AFC East title with an 11-5 mark in 2008.
Before being hired by the Dolphins, Ireland worked for the Cowboys as a national scout (2001-04) and vice president of college and pro scouting (2005-07). In his final season, Dallas won the NFC East with a 13-3 record.
Ireland began his NFL career as an area scout with the Chiefs (1997-2000).
As a player, Ireland was a placekicker at Baylor from 1988-91. He exited as the school's third all-time leading scorer, and his 45 field goals and 58-yard field goal were school records.
Ireland served as a Bears ball boy when he was 12 years old; his grandfather, Jim Parmer, worked for the team as a scout (1972-77) and director of college scouting (1978-85). During Parmer's tenure, the Bears drafted five future Hall of Famers: Running back Walter Payton (1975), defensive lineman Dan Hampton (1979), middle linebacker Mike Singletary (1981), tackle Jimbo Covert (1983) and defensive end Richard Dent (1983).
Flores boasts 18 years of NFL experience, coaching all three phases—offense, defense and special teams—after beginning his career as a scout.
He spent the past three seasons as Dolphins head coach, compiling a 24-25 record, including winning campaigns each of the last two years. In 2020, Flores guided Miami to a 10-6 mark, winning nine of the final 12 games. In 2021, the Dolphins won seven straight contests en route to a 9-8 finish.
Before joining the Dolphins, Flores spent the previous 15 years with the Patriots, winning four Super Bowl rings. He initially served as a scouting assistant (2004-05) and pro scout (2006-07) before transitioning into coaching. He worked as a special teams assistant (2008-09), offensive assistant and special teams coach (2010), defensive assistant (2011), safeties coach (2012-15) and linebackers coach (2016-18).
As a player, Flores was a two-year starter and a member of four bowl-winning teams as a linebacker at Boston College, where he was named to the Big East All-Academic Team in 2003.
The Bears have now interviewed four candidates for the general manager position and two for the head-coaching job in the last three days:
Wednesday
Glenn Cook (GM)
Doug Pederson (HC)
Thursday
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (GM)
Champ Kelly (GM)
Friday
Jeff Ireland (GM)
Brian Flores (HC)
