The Chicago Bears zeroed in on hiring new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Monday, but they still have more work to do to fill out their coaching staff.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus plans to name a defensive coordinator after he didn’t fill the position midseason following Alan Williams’ exit.

Eberflus said earlier this month he still was determining whether he would continue to call plays, as he did for most of the 2023 season after Williams left. But he also said the Bears were “going to keep everything open right now” as they considered candidates.

Either way, Eberflus believed the position would draw prime candidates, though the Bears potentially could interview in-house candidates for the job too.

“I think both the offense and defensive coordinator positions are very attractive based on the personnel we have and based on the rise of this team,” he said.

The Tribune is tracking defensive coordinator candidates as they interview for the position.

Jan. 21

Tennessee Titans defensive pass game coordinator Chris Harris will interview with the Bears, NFL Network reported.

The rundown: Harris, a former NFL safety whom the Bears drafted in the sixth round in 2005, has 10 years of coaching experience. With the Titans in 2023, he served as the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach. Before that, he coached defensive backs for the Washington Commanders for three seasons, helping the Commanders to top-10 defenses in 2020 and 2022. He was the Los Angeles Chargers assistant defensive backs coach for four seasons after starting his coaching career as a Bears defensive quality control coach in 2013-14.

As a player, Harris made 88 starts over eight NFL seasons, including two stints with the Bears in 2005-06 and 2010-11. He played under coach Lovie Smith and started for the 2006 Bears team that went to the Super Bowl.

He interviewed for Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator position, but the Jaguars reportedly are hiring former Atlanta Falcons DC Ryan Nielsen.

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