Simply put, the Bears aren’t just interested in McCarthy, they’re treating him like he’s a frontrunner for the job. And you can’t blame them with his pedigree and ability to bring out the best in his quarterbacks.

With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the Chicago Bears have turned their focus toward a coaching search that will be one of the most significant processes in team history. The Bears have heavy lifting ahead to close the gap on three division rivals who qualified for the playoffs.