Bears general manager Phil Emery has requested permission from the Indianapolis Colts to speak to offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, the NFL Network reported.

Arians is also reportedly drawing interest from the San Diego Chargers.

Arians has been successful coordinating the offenses of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Colts. But Arians has shined this season, stepping in for head coach Chuck Pagano while he was battling leukemia. The Colts, 2-14 in 2011, went 9-3 under Arians, who turned the team back over to Pagano on Christmas Eve.

Arians played quarterback at Virginia Tech, and he coached extensively in college, including six seasons as head coach at Temple. But he was 21-39 there.

In the NFL, though, Arians is noted for his work with quarterbacks. He was Peyton Manning's first quarterbacks coach, and he also worked with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, where he was offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011.

After his contract expired with the Steelers, Arians joined the Colts, and he developed No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck.

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