The Kansas City Chiefs granted permission for the Chicago Bears to interview personnel director Chris Ballard for the vacant general manager position, according to reports Friday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Ballard will be interviewed in Chicago on either Friday or Saturday

Ballard was linked to the Bears opening almost immediately after Phil Emery was fired as general manager on Monday. Emery was 23-25 in three seasons with the Bears, firing Lovie Smith after a 10-6 season in 2012 and replacing him with first-time NFL head coach Marc Trestman, who also was let go Monday.

Ballard spent 12 years in the Bears organization before jumping to Kansas City before the 2013 season.

“Chris is a tremendous person and very sharp at what he does in the personnel side of things,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Ballard this week. “He and (GM John Dorsey) work hand in hand. I think he has a bright future in this business and quite potentially as a general manager.”

New York Giants vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross, Baltimore Ravens pro personnel director Vince Newsome and Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel Lake Dawson also have been mentioned as GM candidates in Chicago.