Bears Looking At Trestman

The Chicago Bears aren't limiting their coaching search to the American game.
Looking north of the border at a noted quarterback guru from the Canadian Football League, the Bears will reportedly interview Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman for their head coaching position.

With Trestman signing an extension with the Alouettes that takes his deal through 2016, it's unknown whether he'll be allowed out of his CFL contract if the Bears decide to hire him.

The NFL Network reported Saturday the Bears plan to interview Trestman as a potential successor to the recently fired Lovie Smith. Sources tell ESPN the interview will happen Monday.

A source with the Alouettes indicated it's likely Trestman would be allowed out of his contract because the team's ownership is "usually pretty good about stuff like that ... although Marc just signed a new extension this year. So I don't know if that might hold things up."

The source added Trestman "works well with a front office" and is "a player's coach for sure."

Trestman also possesses considerable experience in the NFL, where he's worked on staffs tutoring quarterbacks such as Steve Young (worked for 49ers from 1995-96), Rich Gannon (Raiders from 2001-03), who was named the league's MVP in 2001, and Bernie Kosar (1989). Trestman also worked in 2007 with the New Orleans Saints as a consultant.
Other NFL stops for Trestman include Minnesota (two stints), Tampa Bay (1987, then again in 2001 as a senior offensive assistant for Jon Gruden), Detroit (1997), Arizona (1998-2000) and Miami (2004) as well as the University of Miami (1981-84), where he received his law degree.

Trestman spent 2005 and 2006 at North Carolina State, before leaving in 08 for the CFL.
In addition to his duties as a coach, Trestman work during the offseason to prepare college quarterbacks for the NFL draft. Trestman worked with Jay Cutler and Bears backups Jason Campbell before their respective drafts.
According to his official website, Trestman has also worked with Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden, Denver rookie Brock Osweiler as well as Tim Tebow of the New York Jets and Carolina's Jimmy Clausen.

In a testimonial on Trestman's website, Weeden said: "I thought it was my important few days leading up to the (2012) draft. Getting to get up on the board and talk through West Coast systems, and then be able to go out on the field and put some of those things to use. Marc is an extremely knowledgeable football mind and his obvious success everywhere he has been proves that he knows how to develop and teach quarterbacks."

In another testimonial, 2012 second-round pick Osweiler said: "In the days I spent with coach Trestman preparing for the NFL combine, I became a better, sharper, more intelligent quarterback. 'Coach T' taught me what being a professional quarterback was all about. Without question, coach Trestman made a huge impact on my rookie year as a player and a professional."

(From ESPN Chicago)