Former Bills interim coach Perry Fewell will interview with the Bears on Monday. (Don Heupel / Associated Press)

Former Bills interim coach Perry Fewell is the premier candidate for the Bears’ defensive coordinator opening, and is scheduled to interview next week.

Fewell will interview with the Bears on Monday, and is all but certain to receive an offer to become the team’s defensive coordinator. Fewell is close with coach Lovie Smith and is well-versed in the Tampa-2 defense. Although Fewell interviewed with the Giants last week, the Bears essentially have left the coordinator spot open for him — and there is a good chance a deal gets done.

USC assistant Jeremy Bates, who has close ties to Chicago QB Jay Cutler, is scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Monday night and interview for the Bears’ offensive coordinator position on Tuesday. However, Bates is a strong candidate to join USC coach Pete Carroll in Seattle, and Bears officials figure that if Carroll and his assistants get five-year deals, Bates will join Carroll.

The situation in Chicago, with Smith entering 2010 on the hot seat and A-list coaching candidates like Bill Cowher to eventually land there, would not be as attractive.

The Bears are also interested in former Rams coach Mike Martz for the offensive coordinator position and had interest in Charlie Weis as well, before he took the offensive coordinator position in Kansas City.

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