Singletary returns to Chicago

By Paul Eide  |   Thursday, October 26, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Chicago Bears
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One of the more puzzling moves during former Chicago Bears head coach Dick Jauron's time in Chicago, though there were several, was his refusal to hire NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary to his defensive coaching staff.

When Singletary decided he was going to begin coaching at the NFL level back in 2003, the first person he called to offer his services was Jauron. Singletary was very modest in his approach, was willing to accept an entry level defensive coaching position and had no delusions of grandeur about becoming a defensive coordinator overnight. Singletary was ready to pay his dues as a coach and he wanted to do it with the organization he helped make successful.

Regardless, Jauron declined and Singletary was forced to look elsewhere.

"It's just the nature of the business," Singletary said at the time. "I'm going to land on my feet, and the Bears will be fine."

To think that Singletary would be allowed to coach for any other team is absurd, as his penetrating gaze literally defined the Bears organization during the success of the mid-1980s.

Known as "Samurai Mike," for his intimidating focus and intensity during his playing career, Singletary appeared in nine Pro Bowls ('83-'91), was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year ('85 and '88) and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Why Jauron declined his offer isn't known, but his decision ultimately resulted in Singletary becoming the linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens. While there, he was part of a staff that led the Ravens' defense to a third overall finish in 2003 and a sixth overall finish in 2004.

Singletary's boss during that time was then-Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. When Nolan was hired in 2005 to be the San Francisco 49er's head coach, he brought Singletary along and promoted him to assistant head coach/linebackers coach. In the beginning of 2006, Singletary was promoted to assistant head coach/defense and is off to a successful start, climbing the coaching ranks of the NFL.

The Chicago legend's return to Soldier Field this weekend on the visitor's sideline isn't how many fans would like to see him come back, but it seems as though the best has worked out for both parties involved. Thanks to the dedication and discipline he was known for on the field, Singletary is fast becoming a leading candidate for future head coaching jobs around the league.

The Bears are 6-0, but look to prove that the remarkable victory over the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago wasn't a sign of a team headed for a meltdown, but, rather, the first gut check of the year for the team. Even after only producing three points against the Cardinals, the Bears' offense is still ranked No. 1 in the NFL in scoring, averaging 30 points a game, and will look to regroup against a 49ers defense that gives up the most points per game (32.3) in the entire league.

The 49ers will not be taken lightly, but this game is the perfect opportunity for the Bears to reassert their dominance and remind the NFL why they are one of only two remaining undefeated teams.

So while it may not be the way he first envisioned, Mike Singletary will be standing on the sideline at Soldier Field with a clipboard in his hand this Sunday.

"Will I ever end up in Chicago again, who knows?" Singletary said. All I know is that I'm going to be where I am supposed to be, and everything else will take care of itself."

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