National Football League

Bears interview Olson for passing coordinator

Published Jan. 12, 2012 11:36 p.m. ET

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The Chicago Bears were scheduled to interview former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Greg Olson for their passing coordinator/quarterbacks coach opening on Thursday.

The team said on its website that the interview was to take place at its headquarters.

Olson spent the past four seasons on Tampa Bay's staff, the last three as offensive coordinator after serving as quarterbacks coach in 2008. He oversaw the development of Josh Freeman as the Buccaneers won 10 games in 2010, but things soured in a big way this season.

Tampa Bay dropped its final 10 games following a 4-2 start and let coach Raheem Morris go along with all his assistants.

Olson served as Chicago's quarterbacks coach under Dick Jauron in 2003 and held a similar job with Detroit the following year before being promoted by the Lions to offensive coordinator in 2005. He spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons as St. Louis' offensive coordinator.

The Bears are making some changes after finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. They fired general manager Jerry Angelo and promoted offensive line coach Mike Tice to offensive coordinator, replacing Mike Martz.

Tice will call plays and continue to be heavily involved with the offensive line, with the quarterbacks coach playing a big role with the passing game.

The Bears say they have received permission to interview four external candidates for the GM job - Kansas City Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery, New England Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, San Diego Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye and New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross. Chicago director of player personnel Tim Ruskell remains in the running to replace Angelo.

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