Getty Images

Major changes could be coming for the Bears; it’s still unclear how high up the organization chart the pinks slips will fly.

At a time when even long-time team president Ted Phillips couldn’t escape the scuttlebutt of a potential termination, the current thinking is that Phillips won’t be fired — and that his Hail Mary pass will consist of bringing back Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard as the team’s new General Manager.

Last year, the Chiefs denied Tampa Bay’s request for permission to interview Ballard for the G.M. job, at Ballard’s request. Ballard, as of a year ago, wanted to stay in Kansas City.

This time around, Ballard could choose to return to Chicago, where he spent 12 years under former G.M. Jerry Angelo and (for one year) current and apparently-soon-to-be-former G.M. Phil Emery.

The biggest question — and the greatest current unknown — will be the new coach in Chicago. If the team is determined to keep quarterback Jay Cutler, the guy that makes the most sense is former Raiders, Broncos, and Washington coach Mike Shanahan, who traded up in the 2006 draft to get Cutler.