"Emery, Licht finalists for GM job"
The choices for the Bears' next general manager are down to two, the team announced Monday night.
The finalists -- Phil Emery, the Chiefs' director of college scouting and Jason Licht, New England's director of pro personnel, are set for a second round of interviews, to be conducted at Halas Hall later in the week.
Emery, considered the favorite, has plenty of experience with the Bears, working as an area scout from 1998-2004.
The other finalist, Licht, is a 16-year NFL veteran, who has spent the majority of his time with New England. Lich was the Patriots' director of pro personnel for the past three years. He had previously worked as a college scout for New England, from 1999-2002.
In between, he helped the Arizona Cardinals claim the NFC title in 2008-09. Licht also was the Eagles' vice president of player personnel from 2006-07, following a three-year run as the team's assistant director of personnel.
The Bears had opened with a list of five candidates, who were interviewed by Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips. The list included
Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III, Marc Ross, the Giants' director of college scouting, and Tim Ruskell, the Bears' current director of player personnel.
