Bears part ways with D-coordinator Rivera

[Horry For 3!]

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CHI/10007836

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (Feb. 19, 2007) -- Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will not return next season.

Rivera, who has talked with eight different NFL teams about their head coaching job the last two seasons, including San Diego last week, had a contract that was set to expire this month. The NFC champions announced that he will not be back.

Rivera was a linebacker on Chicago's Super Bowl champion team in 1986 and then led a defense that helped the Bears make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Chicago had trouble containing Indianapolis in the Super Bowl, losing 29-17 to the Peyton Manning-led Colts.

Rivera has been an assistant coach for 10 years in the NFL.

[kskonn]

wow I wonder who will pick him up. I guess there a number of teams that would be happy to have him.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

He already signed to be the LB coach in SD.

[kskonn]

man from Defensive co of a superbowl team to LB coach, pretty big demotion. I guess everyone who has interviewed him for head coach made the correct read about his coaching talents.

[MajorMike]

WTF?? He was THE front runner or at the very least on a very short list to for no less than 8 teams to be their HC... he was the DC for the best D in the NFL until they got ravaged with injuries... he was DC of the NFL runner-up team... and he gets a LB position in a crap franchise under a crap HC??

That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. There must be more to this story.

[tsb2000]

Basically, the story is that Lovie let him go. Why he was let go remains to be seen...

[Pugglekicker_21]

This was a steal for the Chargers.