NFL: A return to the NFL for Pete Carroll?

Super Bowl champion coach Pete Carroll has expressed interest in the Chicago Bears head coaching job and would like to return to the sidelines next year, ESPN has learned.

Carroll is one of four coaches to lead teams to a national championship and a Super Bowl. The others are Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Harbaugh.

Three teams – the Bears, Jets and Saints – are in the market for a head coach who can help revive their culture. Few coaches have been more effective than Carroll at this level.

The Bears fired Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29, a day after a 23-20 loss to the Lions that ended with the Bears attempting a comeback. Poor time management ended the Bears' hopes. Thomas Brown, who had recently been named the Bears' interim offensive coordinator, took over as interim head coach.

Carroll helped turn USC into a championship team and then went to Seattle, leading the Seahawks to 10 playoff appearances, two conference championships and a Super Bowl in 14 seasons.

Last January, the Seahawks announced the end of Carroll as head coach. At the time, owner Jody Allen said in a statement that Carroll would remain with the team as a consultant. Later, Seattle hired Mike Macdonald as head coach.

In recent weeks, Carroll began discussing a return to the NFL and is now interested in doing so. He has yet to speak with any teams according to sources, but he would welcome the chance.

Even though Carroll is 73 years old, everyone who knows him knows he has more energy than most people.

“I'm in the best physical shape I've been in a long time. I'm ready to do all the activities and I feel good,” Carroll told a radio station in August.

Former USC quarterback Caleb Williams is of interest to Carroll, sources say.