Fitzgerald Cecilio

The Chicago Bears are expanding their head coaching search to the Canadian Football League (CFL) as they reportedly plan to interview Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman.

The NFL Network first reported that the Bears are looking into Trestman as a potential successor to the recently fired Lovie Smith.

Trestman recently signed a contract extension with the Alouettes until 2016 but according to a source, the team would be more than willing to give him up in case the Bears acquire his services.

In five seasons with the Alouettes, Trestman has led the club to three appearances in the Grey Cup, including consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 and has been named the league's coach of the year (2009). This season, he led the Alouettes to an 11-7 mark.

Trestman has a rich NFL experience, working on staffs tutoring quarterbacks such as Steve Young (worked for 49ers from 1995-96), Rich Gannon (Raiders from 2001-03), who was named the league's MVP in 2001, and Bernie Kosar (1989).

Aside from working with the New Orleans Saints as a consultant in 2007, Trestman also had stints with Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins as well as the University of Miami (1981-84), where he received his law degree.

Trestman spent 2005 and 2006 at North Carolina State, before leaving in 2008 for the CFL.

In addition, Trestman works during the offseason to prepare college quarterbacks for the NFL draft. He earlier worked with Jay Cutler and Bears backups Jason Campbell before their respective drafts.

According to his official website, Trestman has also worked with Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden, Denver rookie Brock Osweiler as well as Tim Tebow of the New York Jets and Carolina's Jimmy Clausen.

Bears general manager Phil Emery has met with Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis and will meet Sunday in Denver with Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

The club has already interviewed Atlanta Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan and New Orleans offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr.

The Bears also requested permission to interview Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements, as well as Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

 

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