Good morning, Chicago.

One head coaching vacancy closed Sunday when the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel and another could potentially open soon with Mike McCarthy’s contract in Dallas set to expire Tuesday.

All of the movement affects the Bears’ process in one way or another as they prepare for more head coach candidate interviews. A week after the season ended, the team announced Sunday it completed an in-person interview with Ron Rivera, the team’s former linebacker and defensive coordinator, at Halas Hall. Rivera is the eighth candidate the team has announced an interview with and it is believed the club already met with Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, who would be a ninth interview.

Seven more candidates will become available for interviews this week — and the club figures to circle back with interim coach Thomas Brown at some point.

NFL Network reported Sunday the Bears are interested in meeting with Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, who the team drafted as a linebacker out of Ohio State in the fifth round in 2009. There’s no way that would happen until after the college national championship game on Jan. 20.

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