Bears Dump Rivera

The Chicago Bears announced today they won't retain Ron Rivera as their defensive coordinator.

Rivera interviewed for six of the seven head coaching vacancies in the league this offseason but now, stunningly, is out of a job in Chicago.

"I don't see it as a firing or anything like that," Bears Coach Lovie Smith said in a conference call with reporters. "His contract expired and he wants to go in one direction, and I'd like to go in one. No more than that."

His contract had expired but league rules gave the Bears exclusive negotiating rights with him until next week. He was to become, in effect, a coaching free agent then.

The Bears have had one of the NFL's best defenses the past two seasons and reached the Super Bowl this month but lost to the Indianapolis Colts.

Rivera had head coaching interviews with the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers but didn't land a job. The Chargers hired San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner today.

Rivera's contract with the Bears paid him an estimated $450,000 this season.

"I believe this is just a football decision and it was made," Rivera said in a conference call with reporters. "Emotionally I'm disappointed in not getting the opportunity to come back in '07 because as I said at the end of the year after the loss that this is a football team that's headed in the right direction."

Linebackers coach Bob Babich likely will succeed Rivera in Chicago.

By Mark Maske |  February 19, 2007; 10:04 PM ET  | Category:  Bears
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