The Bears are relentlessly exploring every option in their quest for a new head coach. As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears contacted the Steelers regarding head coach Mike Tomlin.
In particular, the Bears inquired whether they “could speak to and possibly attempt to trade” for Tomlin. That request was ultimately turned down by the Steelers. The Bears seemingly weren’t the sole team to inquire about Tomlin; according to Schefter, another team reached out to the Steelers.
Although the Steelers would clearly play a significant role in any decision regarding Tomlin’s departure, it appears that the coach also has some influence over his own future. According to Schefter, Tomlin has a no-trade clause, meaning that any interested teams would encounter several obstacles if they were genuinely looking to acquire him.
The Bears have been particularly assertive in their quest for a new head coach. The team has spoken with or sought interviews from several of this cycle’s top candidates, including rising coordinators such as Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, along with veteran head coach Pete Carroll. The team has also turned to college ranks, with a recent report suggesting that the Bears aimed to interview Marcus Freeman from Notre Dame.
According to our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker, the Bears have conducted interviews or sought interviews with 17 candidates, and there are a few more prospects that have been associated with the team. Given the team’s extensive search, it’s not surprising that they made a play for Tomlin. This report also suggests that the Bears would not hesitate to pursue a trade for a head coach. Courtney Cronin of ESPN observes that Bears GM Ryan Poles genuinely meant it when he stated the team would “explore every option to find the top coach” in Chicago.
Tomlin would stand as one of the most seasoned and successful coaching choices for the Bears. He has been the head coach of the Steelers since the 2007 season, and he is well-known for never experiencing a losing season throughout his 18 years in Pittsburgh. This tenure has featured 12 playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl victory in his second season coaching. Lately, the experienced coach has faced criticism for the Steelers’ absence of playoff success. The team has reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, and each of those instances ended with a quick exit.
