Jan. 18--New Bears coach John Fox returned to Chicago on Friday, wasting no time putting his coaching staff together. Before he's scheduled to be introduced at 11 a.m. Monday at Halas Hall, Fox began looking for coordinators with the same urgency general manager Ryan Pace applied to the head coaching search.
The coaching carousel still is spinning, although many vacancies have filled across the league as the Super Bowl creeps closer. With that in mind, here are a few of the highest-profile candidates for Fox to consider:
OFFENSE
Adam Gase
Gase, 36, was Fox's offensive coordinator for the last two seasons in Denver, and his quarterbacks coach for two years before that. Bears brass is familiar with Gase after interviewing him for their head coaching vacancy on Jan. 3. Gase interviewed Thursday to succeed Fox in Denver, so keep an eye on the Broncos' search. Quarterback Peyton Manning endorsed Gase as a bright offensive mind, a vital part of game-planning and a coach who heavily impacted the record-setting passing attack in 2013.
Kyle Shanahan
Shanahan, 35, had success coordinating the Texans' and Redskins' offenses. He helped design a zone-read system that lifted Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III to the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2012. The Redskins led the NFL that season by averaging 6.17 yards per play. He's the son of former Broncos and Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan, who drafted Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and receiver Brandon Marshall in 2006 in Denver. Kyle Shanahan resigned from the Browns' offensive coordinator position on Jan. 10, as the organization's handling of quarterback Johnny Manziel continued to make headlines.
DEFENSE
Dennis Allen
Allen, 42, has ties to Fox and Pace. He was Fox's defensive coordinator in Denver in 2011 and an assistant with the Saints from 2006-10 while Pace was there. He was fired as Raiders head coach during the 2014 season. His year with Fox in Denver is his only season as a defensive coordinator. Under former Saints coordinator Gregg Williams, Allen became rooted in a 4-3 scheme that values speed more than size in the front seven.
Vic Fangio
Fangio, 56, is believed to have interviewed Saturday at Halas Hall, and he reportedly will interview for the Redskins' coordinator opening. He coordinated the 49ers' defense the last four seasons. That unit ranked in the NFL's top five in total defense each year, despite extensive personnel issues due to injury and disciplinary reasons in 2014. His background is in the 3-4 front with the Ravens and 49ers.
Mike Nolan
Nolan, 55, coordinated the Falcons' defense the last three seasons, and his future is in limbo after coach Mike Smith was fired. Twice he has left a team the year before Fox arrived -- he was the Giants' defensive coordinator from 1993-96, and he coordinated the Broncos' defense in 2009. He has head coaching experience with the 49ers (2005-08).
Mike Smith
Smith, 55, was fired after a seven-year run as Falcons coach that included five winning seasons. The Falcons' defense ranked in the top half of the league only twice during Smith's tenure. They were last in total yards and yards per play in 2014, as offenses exposed talent deficiencies. Smith's defenses played a 4-3 front.
