The Bears entered Week 2 of their general manager search with an announcement that four candidates have interviews scheduled and the club also is moving forward to fill out Lovie Smith's coaching staff.
According to an NFL source, Greg Olson, the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers the last three seasons, will interview for the passing game/quarterbacks coach vacancy this week. Olson was the Bears' quarterbacks coach for Dick Jauron in 2003.
It's not known where Olson stacks up among a list of potential candidates that includes former Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, former Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and University of Miami offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch.
Koetter could be at the top of the list because he worked with newly promoted offensive coordinator Mike Tice with the Jaguars and the two remain close. But Koetter interviewed for the Alabama offensive coordinator job Wednesday, and speculation is he could be in line for the same position with the Falcons after Mike Mularkey left Tuesday to become the head coach of the Jaguars.
The other two candidates have ties to quarterback Jay Cutler. Fisch was the wide receivers coach for the Broncos in 2008 when Cutler threw for a career-high 4,526 yards. The Bears interviewed Fisch to be quarterbacks coach in 2007 but hired Pep Hamilton. Bates was Cutler's quarterbacks coach in Denver and he was out of coaching this season.
Olson has the most experience at the NFL level. He helped bring along Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman, who was the sixth-rated passer in 2010 in his second season. Injuries and one of the youngest rosters in the league contributed to the decline of the Bucs this season.
Olson also helped develop running back LeGarrette Blount and wide receivers Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn. The Rams had the sixth-ranked offense in the NFL in 2006 when Olson was their offensive coordinator, a role he also had with the Lions. He also is credited with helping develop a record-breaking quarterback in college, working with Drew Brees at Purdue.
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