Coach Mike Singletary wants to get one thing straight.
“I don’t want to be hard on the Bears,” he said.
That’s Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Mike Singletary. It might take a while for Chicago to get used to it. Singletary already has.
“I have the utmost respect for Dick Jauron,” Singletary said Thursday after taking his first coaching job since retiring from the Bears in 1992. “I’m really proud of Dick to keep his coaching staff together. I appreciate the fact it would have been scary if he had fired somebody.”
One year ago Singletary was immersed in his motivational speaking and his company, the Leadership Zone, working with corporations on developing the next generation of leaders.
Not until Baylor, his alma mater, encouraged him in November to apply for its head-coaching opening did Singletary decide the time had come.
He said Bryan Harlan, former Bears public relations director currently representing broadcasters and football coaches, did an “outstanding” job helping him prepare. Because of his impeccable reputation, Singletary’s lack of experience and decade away from the game removed some obstacles.
The Bears weren’t the only ones to turn away Singletary but, of course, the Bears are the only team Singletary ever knew.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I’ve loved Chicago. I loved the Bears. We prayed and said, `Lord, bless us to go to the right place.’ It’s time to move on.”
