Bears tightening candidate list for head coach

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The end of the divisional playoff round was expected to trigger phase two of the Bears search for a successor to Lovie Smith and it did just that, with three finalists due for second interviews with Bears, according to various reports.

The narrowing of the field raised the possibility that the Bears could have the 14th head coach in their history by next weekend.

Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who met with GM Phil Emery in Atlanta on Saturday prior to the Seahawks-Falcons divisional game, is on the short list, as first reported by ESPNs Chris Mortensen.

That Bevell was able to make such a strong impression with Emery despite a divisional playoff game the next day speaks to a strong ability to compartmentalize.

Marc Trestman spent eight hours meeting with Emery in their first interview, an indication of a connection that was borne out by Trestman being called back for meetings that will include Bears Chairman George McCaskey and President Ted Phillips, according to ESPN.

Trestman has been a successful head coach with the Montreal Alouettes, which won two Grey Cup championships under his stewardship.

Bruce Arians work with Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck, plus a 9-3 stint as an interim coach with the Indianapolis Colts this season, helped convince the Bears that Arians might be the one to take Jay Cutler to an elite level. Arians also made the finalists cut.

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