A nightmare scenario looks to be unfolding in Bears' coaching search

This weekend is a big one around the NFL. Not only is it the beginning of the postseason, but several teams are making progress on finding their next head coach, including the Chicago Bears.

With interviews happening rapidly around the league, the Bears have certainly kept their options open with a couple of bigger names standing atop the list.

The top two candidates for this Bears opening are no surprise to fans. For a few days now, we've known the Bears have had their eyes set on Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Johnson is, of course, the master behind the NFL's most exciting and creative offense over in Detroit. Meanwhile, Vrabel would bring a no-nonsense type of mentality and an immediate culture change in Chicago.

Quite frankly, either one of them would be phenomenal hires for the Bears and for various reasons.

But now, there is a realistic world where the Bears end up with neither.

The Bears may be left on the outside looking in at Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel taking jobs elsewhere

Saturday afternoon, there were a couple of news bits that may lead to this very nightmare for Bears fans. First of all, it was reported that the New England Patriots were involved in contract discussions with Vrabel.

The idea of Vrabel in New England makes way too much sense and many fans likely saw this coming. The former Patriots linebacker has had a relationship with Robert Kraft and the organization for quite some time, and after New England shockingly fired Jerod Mayo, this seems like the obvious reason why.

So, it looks like Vrabel could be off the market very shortly. Now, as for Johnson? Bears fans might be surprised to learn that the Las Vegas Raiders have now emerged as a legitimate possibility.

More Bears news:

NFL insider Peter Schrager reported that Johnson to the Raiders is actually "picking up way more steam in league circles over the last 48 hours" on Saturday.

In short, this isn't great news. Bears fans could have to get used to the idea of someone else coaching this team after it seemed like a very realistic chance the team would be able to land either Vrabel or Johnson during this cycle.

Other top candidates, whom the Bears are interested in, include former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and former Bears linebacker and Carolina/Washington head coach Ron Rivera.

There are plenty of other names involved in the interviewing process, but those are some of the bigger ones.

None of them seem to have the same appeal as Vrabel or Johnson, other than maybe Glenn. Although, it seems like Glenn is destined for either the Jets or Saints job.

For now, we'll just have to wait and see how this all pans out.