National Football League

Bears interview Marrone, Austin

Published Jan. 13, 2015 9:25 p.m. ET

foxsports

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Former Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone interviewed for the Chicago Bears' job as did Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

The team confirmed the interviews Tuesday.

Marrone exercised an opt-out clause in his contract two weeks ago after leading Buffalo to its best finish in a decade, leaving some players stunned and unhappy with him. The Bills went 9-7 for their first winning season since 2004 but extended the NFL's longest active postseason drought to 15 seasons.

They went 15-17 in two seasons under Marrone.

A former NFL offensive lineman, Marrone was the Saints' offensive coordinator from 2006-08 and worked with new Bears general manager Ryan Pace.

Austin, who just completed his first season as Detroit's defensive coordinator, turned a middle-of-the-road defense into one of the league's best. Only Seattle gave up fewer yards per game than the Lions, who went 11-5 before a bitter playoff loss to Dallas.

The Bears made sweeping changes after finishing 5-11 and missing the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years. They hired Pace out of New Orleans' front office last week to replace the fired Phil Emery and are trying to fill the coaching job after letting Marc Trestman go.

Chicago has also interviewed Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

The Bears made a change in their front office Tuesday, parting ways with director of pro personnel Kevin Turks.

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