General manager Ryan Pace is conducting his fifth interview for the Bears' head-coaching position, meeting in Philadelphia Saturday with Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo.
DeFilippo, 39, has spent the past 18 seasons as a coach, including 10 in the NFL with five different teams. Currently in his second year as Eagles quarterbacks coach, he helped Carson Wentz emerge as one of the NFL's top young passers before he sustained a season-ending knee injury.
The second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Wentz was named second-team All-Pro this year despite missing the final three games with a torn ACL. He completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 3,296 yards with 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 101.9 passer rating that ranked fourth in the NFL.
"[DeFilippo] is a great teacher, No. 1," Eagles head coach Doug Pederson told NJ.com. "He understands the offense; he knows what we're trying to get across. He's a great teacher, not only in the classroom, but the drill work and what he puts the quarterbacks through. It's all game-specific drill work and he really does a nice job preparing the guys, the quarterbacks, during the week.
John DeFilippo in 2015, then the Browns offensive coordinator.
"Very exhaustive in the film study and is showing them every look, every blitz and for the entire season. Plus, it's just the way he prepares these guys and he's done a great job with them. Great communicator."
DeFilippo joined the Eagles after spending the 2015 season as offensive coordinator with the Browns. In Cleveland, he helped quarterback Josh McCown post an impressive 93.3 passer rating.
DeFilippo originally entered the NFL as an offensive quality control coordinator with the Giants (2005-06) before serving as quarterbacks coach with the Raiders (2007-08) and Jets (2009).
DeFilippo left the NFL to work as quarterbacks coach at San Jose State in 2010 before adding the title of offensive coordinator in 2011. He returned to the NFL for a second stint as Raiders quarterbacks coach from 2012-14.
In 2014, DeFilippo helped develop second-round draft pick David Carr, whose 348 completions were the second most ever by an NFL rookie quarterback and whose 12 interceptions were the fewest by a rookie with at least 450 pass attempts in league history.
DeFilippo started his coaching career at the collegiate level at Fordham (2000), Notre Dame (2001-02) and Columbia (2003-04).
Before meeting with DeFilippo, Pace interviewed Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio Wednesday, Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards Thursday, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur Friday and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels Friday for the Bears' head-coaching job.
