Chiefs’ Chris Ballard will interview for Chicago Bears’ vacant general manager job

The Chiefs have granted the Chicago Bears permission to interview Chris Ballard, the team’s director of pro personnel, a source confirmed to The Star.

The news was reported first by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Ballard has a history with the Bears. He spent 12 seasons in Chicago, including one as the team’s director of pro scouting in 2012.

Ballard, who joined the Chiefs before the 2013 eason, spent the previous 11 years as the Bears’ Southwest area scout and helped draft Pro Bowlers Matt Forte, Tommie Harris, Johnny Knox, Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher.

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said Monday he has not been approached by a team seeking to interview Ballard, but would not stand in his way if one does.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid had kind words for Ballard, who essentially functions as Dorsey’s right-hand man.

“Chris is a tremendous person, very sharp at what he does from the personnel side of things,” Reid said. “He and Dorse work hand-in-hand. I think he has a bright future in this business, quite potentially as a general manager.”

What would the Chiefs lose if he left?

“Probably those things I mentioned,” Reid said. “He’s a good person and he has the ability to help another team. We’ll cross all that when that takes place. But he’s surely worthy of getting an opportunity.”

This story was originally published January 1, 2015 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ Chris Ballard will interview for Chicago Bears’ vacant general manager job."