Posted at 7:05 p.m., Monday, February 19, 2007
Just hours on job, Chargers Turner hires Bears Rivera
By Erik Matuszewski
Bloomberg News Services
Rivera's three-year contract with Chicago expired after the team's Super Bowl loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 4. Bears coach Lovie Smith said the two were headed in "different directions" in announcing Rivera's departure from the coaching staff today on a conference call.
Rivera, 45, was hired less than three hours later by new Chargers coach Norv Turner. Rivera had been one of the six candidates for the Chargers' head coaching job and interviewed for nine NFL coaching vacancies in the past two years.
"He has a wide range of experience with a variety of defenses as both a player and a coach," Turner said of Rivera in a statement. "And he's coming from a team fresh off a Super Bowl season and whose defense over the past two years has been as good as any in the league."
Rivera agreed to a two-year contract, the Chargers said in a news release without disclosing financial terms.
Rivera's departure from the Bears came after his representatives and team officials weren't able to agree on a new deal, ESPN reported. The network said Rivera made $500,000 last season, which is about the middle of the salary range for NFL defensive coordinators.
