Perry Fewell is the premier candidate to take over as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, according to a league source.

Fewell, the interim Bills coach who interviewed for the permanent job this week, is coveted by the Bears and very likely will end up running Chicago’s defense if he doesn’t land the head gig in Buffalo. It would be quite surprising if the Bills gave Fewell that position after allowing the entire staff to pursue other jobs.

Fewell is very close to Bears coach Lovie Smith, having worked with him before as the defensive backs coach in St. Louis and Chicago, and is well versed in the Tampa 2 system that Chicago runs. Fewell also is well respected by the Bears’ staff as a coach and motivator.

The Bears fired offensive coordinator Ron Turner and five other coaches on that side of the ball Tuesday. Smith called the defensive plays this season, but he will not do that in 2010.

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