Report: Bears to interview U-M’s English today

Lloyd Carr said yesterday at least six NFL programs had called to speak to his assistant coaches about potential promotions to the next level. Today, the Chicago Sun-Times confirmed one of the teams and one of the coaches.

Michigan defensive backs coach Ron English will interview with the Chicago Bears today, the Sun-Times reported, to replace Perry Fewell. Fewell left to take over defensive coordinator duties with the Buffalo Bills.

English is reportedly the second candidate to interview behind Gill Byrd, a former Pro Bowler with San Diego. The Indianapolis Colts denied the Bears permission to speak with assistant defensive backs coach Leslie Frazier.

If he is offered and accepts the job, English would be the second Michigan secondary coach in the last decade to have been swiped by the Bears. Vance Bedford, now the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, left U-M for Chicago before the 1999 season. He was replaced by Teryl Austin, who left to coach defensive backs for the Seattle Seahawks. Austin will be coaching in that capacity in this Sunday's Super Bowl match-up with Pittsburgh.

The Sun-Times reports that there is one additional person who will be considered for the job -- University of Washington defensive backs coach Steven Wilks.