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Report: Chicago Bears to interview Tennessee State's Eddie George for head coach vacancy

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•about 8 hours•

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Tennessee State coach Eddie George. (HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK)

A major surprise candidate is set to interview for the Chicago Bears head coach vacancy, FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported. Tennessee State head coach Eddie George will speak with the franchise Sunday morning.

George – the College Football Hall of Famer who shined at Ohio State – has been the head coach at Tennessee State since 2021 and has a 24-22 record. He took the Tigers from a 5-6 record in 2021 to a 9-4 mark in 2024. That includes a 6-2 record in conference play to secure a spot in the FCS playoffs. For his efforts, George earned Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.

Tennessee State is George’s first college head coaching opportunity following a decorated career at Ohio State and in the NFL with the Houston Oilers, later the Tennessee Oilers and Titans, and the Dallas Cowboys. Now, he’s getting ready to interview with the Bears as they continue to cast a wide net in their search to replace Matt Eberflus.

“How about this?” Glazer said on the NFL on FOX postgame show. “The Chicago Bears – who I know Ben Johnson’s on their list – here’s a surprise candidate that they are interviewing tomorrow. … Eddie George. How about that? He was the head coach at Tennessee State the last four years. Was Coach of the Year in his conference, won his conference. They will interview him tomorrow morning.”

George put together a Hall of Fame career at Ohio State, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1995 amid an All-American season. He ran for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns that year to bring home the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back, among his many other accolades.

The Houston Oilers then selected George as the No. 14 overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, and he set multiple franchise records during his time with the team. He made four Pro Bowls and won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 1996 as he ran for 1,368 yards and eight touchdowns.

It’s worth noting if George’s interview is in-person, he will be the second minority candidate to speak with the Bears at Halas Hall after Ron Rivera did so. That would mean Chicago meets the Rooney Rule requirements and can make a hire shortly thereafter. The Bears have interviewed at least 15 candidates as they work through their search process.