Chicago Bears GM Phil Emery is known as a very meticulous, thorough worker and is living up to his reputation in his search for a Bears coach. In only three days, he's produced six candidates and likely has more on his initial interview list.
Here are the candidates to date, along with their pros and their cons.
Mike McCoy, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator
Brief bio: He's been with the Broncos four seasons and spent 2000-08 with the Panthers.
Pros: He has taken a wide variety of QB styles and adapted while being successful. He made Bear Kyle Orton a productive passer in Denver (seventh in passing yards), then was able to adjust and do enough with Tim Tebow and a ground-oriented attack (top NFL rushing team, 2011) to get the Broncos a playoff victory. A longtime disciple of John Fox, he now has a luxury with QB Peyton Manning.
Cons: No head coaching experience and also no experience with the other side of the ball. Bears have plenty of competition for him, so his cost will be higher and with a strong playoff team he may not be available to form a coaching staff until late in the process.
Mike Sullivan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator
Brief bio: The former Giants quarterbacks coach is credited with helping improve Eli Manning.
Pros: A tough guy who fits the Chicago style as a former Army Ranger who has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he helped the Bucs improve from 21st to ninth in offense this year. As a QB coach, he helped Eli Manning go from a career-high in interceptions in 2010 to 31 TDs, 4,002 yards and the Super Bowl with the Giants in 2011.
Cons: He has only one year of experience as an offensive coordinator and has never been a head coach. He also has some unusual passer drills he puts QBs through, having them throw from all type of angles and situations, which may or may not mesh with Jay Cutler.
Pete Carmichael, New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator
Brief bio: He has been in the organization seven years, including the last four as OC. He's also been an assistant with the Browns, Redskins, and Chargers, and was the OC at Louisiana Tech when former Bears offensive coordinator Gary Crowton was head coach there.
Pros: Working with Drew Brees, he has been involved with an offense that has been No. 1 in the league four of the last seven years. The Saints have been known for passing, but they've also had some of their best rushing seasons with Carmichael involved, too, ranking sixth in 2011 and 2009.
Cons: He has been in the league since 1995 but is a lifetime assistant. Being an offensive coordinator for Sean Payton, it isn't like he has designed the attack. His play-calling experience is limited to this season when Payton was suspended, and also the final 10 games of 2011 after Payton suffered torn knee ligaments. He has no head coaching experience.
Tom Clements, Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator
Brief bio: He is a former Chicago attorney and was Notre Dame's QB during a 1973 national championship season. He later played briefly in the NFL but had a long, successful CFL career. He was a QB coach for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame and a QB coach for the Saints, Steelers and Chiefs; and the Bills offensive coordinator in 2004-05.
Pros: He has experience molding Aaron Rodgers as the Packers QB coach from 2006-2011 and also worked with Brett Favre. He's familiar with the Bears-Packers rivalry and its importance.
Cons: He has only has been an offensive coordinator three years, just once with Green Bay after replacing Joe Philben. He has no head coaching experience and has been involved only as a coach of QBs or as an OC.
Keith Armstrong, Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator
Brief bio: The Bears special teams coorinator for two years under Dave Wannstedt (1997-98) and Dick Jauron (1999-2000), he has also been the special teams coordinator with Miami and Atlanta.
Pros: As special teams coach, he has been involved with almost the entire roster of teams. Also, he has more experience than just special teams. He coached defensive backs in his first stint with Atlanta (1994-96) and has coached wide receivers and linebackers, as well.
Cons: The Bears need help offensively and looking at special teams coordinators doesn't seem to help this. His experience with other positions was limited to college and the first three years in Atlanta. Being associated with Wannstedt from 1997-98 and then in Miami doesn't help his image to Bears fans, either.
Joe DeCamillis, Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator
Brief bio: Has been a special teams coach in the NFL since 1988 for Denver, the Giants, the Falcons and Jaguars before Dallas. Known nationally as one of the Cowboys assistants who was injured when the team's indoor practice facility roof collapsed duriing a wind storm in 2009, he coached in a neck brace.
Pros: Same as Armstrong. He worked with entire rosters and has had some of the league's best return units. He worked with Atlanta when Emery was there.
Cons: No experience outside of special teams. After being in the league 24 years without being hired as a head coach, why now?
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.