Ron Rivera: January 2009 Archives

Looks like there is going to be a reunion of sorts in San Diego for former Bears' assistant coaches.

Steve Wilks, the defensive backs who Lovie Smith fired on Dec. 30, interviewed in San Diego with the Chargers on Saturday and will meet with team officials at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., to finalize a contract later today. It's also believed that Don Johnson, the defensive line coach for the Bears from 2005-06, will join the Chargers in some capacity. Johnson was surprisingly let go by Smith following Super Bowl XLI when defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was also run off. Rivera, of course, is calling the shots on defense for the Chargers after a midseason promotion.

PITTSBURGH--Rookie head coach John Harbaugh is one victory away from the Super Bowl and another opportunity to promote Dave Toub as a potential head-coaching candidate.

The 11-5 season by the Baltimore Ravens, and their two road playoff victories have already given Toub some momentum because of the coaching history the men share. They come from a special teams background that some have been reluctant to consider. Call it the Frank Gansz Effect. Gansz, one of the most widely respected special teams coaches in the league over the last 30 years, was promoted from that position to head coach in Kansas City. He promptly went 8-22-1 before being replaced by Marty Schottenheimer.

Some believe Gansz's struggles made owners less likely to consider special teams coaches. But Harbaugh was the special teams coordinator in Philadelphia for nine seasons before jumping over to the secondary in 2007. That propelled him to the job in Baltimore and has some league insiders believing that Toub will soon be considered. Of course, Toub worked under Harbaugh for the Eagles before joining Lovie Smith's staff in 2004.

Steve Wilks might not ever have another job interview like he did Friday.

The former Bears' defensive backs coach was in Tampa interviewing to replace Raheem Norris as their secondary coach, and Wilks was flying back to Chicago when the ax fell at One Buc Place and coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were fired. Norris, who had been promoted to defensive coordinator, is expected to be the next Bucs coach and could extend an offer to Wilks.

But Wilks could be close to landing a job elsewhere. He will travel to San Diego today where he will interview with coach Norv Turner and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to be the Chargers' defensive backs coach. San Diego has an opening after Bill Bradley was one of four assistants let go on Tuesday.