Panthers and Seifert Progressing

George Seifert and the Carolina Panthers have made “substantial progress” in negotiations, and he could be named their coach this week, according to a published report.

The Charlotte Observer reported Saturday that the former 49er coach is close to an agreement with the Panthers. There appear to be no significant roadblocks to a multiyear deal that would make Seifert one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL, the newspaper said, citing sources.

Seifert confirmed Friday that he was a candidate, but he wouldn’t discuss his negotiations with the Panthers. Seifert met Tuesday with Carolina owner Jerry Richardson in Charlotte, one day after Dom Capers was fired as coach after four seasons. Seifert declined to say whether he had been offered the job.

“I can’t answer that one way or the other,” Seifert said. “What I can say is there are conversations going on. I would imagine everyone involved has other options to consider.”

Seifert, who won two Super Bowls in eight seasons with the 49ers, made $1.4 million a year when he last coached in 1996. Denver’s Mike Shanahan and Bill Parcells of the New York Jets are the NFL’s top-paid coaches, both earning nearly $2.4 million per year.

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Neither heart problems nor the losing history of the Atlanta Falcons could stop Dan Reeves from being selected as the Associated Press’ NFL Coach of the Year.

Reeves, sidelined for the final two regular-season games after undergoing heart surgery, led the Falcons to their best season (14-2) and their first NFC West title since 1980. He is expected to coach the Falcons in Saturday’s home playoff game, although he might work from the coaches’ box upstairs rather than the sideline.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Reeves, the NFL’s winningest active coach with a 170-124-1 record. “When you look at the people that could have won it--Denny Green, Bill Parcells, Mike Shanahan, guys that have had fantastic years--you feel honored.”

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Kansas City Chief defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham will interview for the Chicago Bears’ vacant coaching job, according to the Kansas City Star.

Cunningham was contacted by the Bears and will interview in Chicago next week, the newspaper reported, citing a source familiar with the process.