MIAMI — Chicago Bears offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, the NFL’s hottest head coaching candidate among assistants, became the fifth coach to interview for the Miami Dolphins’ job Thursday.
Gase interviewed with the Eagles on Tuesday and the Browns on Wednesday, and is regarded by some as the front-runner for the Dolphins’ job. He’s scheduled to interview with the Giants on Friday.
Miami has also interviewed former NFL coach Mike Shanahan, former Falcons coach Mike Smith, Lions defensive co-ordinator Teryl Austin, and Bills running backs coach and assistant head coach Anthony Lynn.
On Friday, the Dolphins are scheduled to interview their interim coach, Dan Campbell, and former Bills coach Doug Marrone.
A year ago, Gase followed head coach John Fox from Denver to Chicago after interviewing for head jobs with the Bears, 49ers, Bills and Falcons. He hasn’t been a head coach, but has been a target of NFL head coaching searches for at least three years.
Gase, 37, spent six seasons on Denver’s staff, including the final two as offensive co-ordinator, when Peyton Manning and the Broncos led the NFL in scoring and total offence.
The Bears won only six games this season and ranked 17th in offensive points. But Gase helped Jay Cutler post a career-high passer rating of 92.3, and the team’s future appears promising.
Gase worked on the staff of Michigan State coach Nick Saban while a student there. He followed Saban to Louisiana State and was a graduate assistant and recruiting assistant before beginning his NFL career in 2003.
Saban coached the Dolphins in 2005-06. He’s one of their eight coaches since their most recent playoff victory in 2000.
