Dick Jauron’s tenure as the Bears’ head coach started amid organizational chaos yet still began with promise that’s easy to forget as his fifth season winds down.
Jauron was hired after Dave McGinnis turned down the job in a dispute with team President Michael McCaskey after the Bears had called a news conference to announce his hiring. The next day, Jauron was the Bears’ coach.
If he isn’t back in 2004, it will be largely because of the Bears’ offensive failures.
In some ways, Jauron had his best offense in his first season. The Bears were eighth in the NFL in total offense but still averaged only 17 points a game, which ranked 25th. They spread the quarterback work among Shane Matthews, rookie Cade McNown and journeyman Jim Miller.
Jauron, a former Pro Bowl safety who was defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars when the Bears hired him, picked Louisiana Tech head coach Gary Crowton as his offensive coordinator. Crowton came armed with a bushel of ideas and gadget plays, but he was gone by the end of the 2002 season, when he was named coach at Brigham Young.
The Bears won their first game under Jauron and were off to a 3-2 start, inspiring hope. But they finished 6-10, and the season ended with the Bears unconvinced that McNown was the quarterback of the future. He wasn’t.
Quarterback factor
In a sign of things to come, the Bears started three quarterbacks. Matthews began the season, then injured his hamstring in the fifth game. Miller started three games and appeared set to take over as the long-term starter. Then he was suspended for the final four games after testing positive for a banned steroid, and McNown started the last three games.
Pivotal game
The Bears fell to 4-6 with a 27-24 overtime loss to Minnesota at Soldier Field, but Miller threw for 422 yards and three touchdowns in his first Bears start. It was a sign that Miller, not McNown, might be the quarterback of the future.
Best personnel moves
One of the Bears’ best drafts in years produced offensive lineman Rex Tucker and receivers D’Wayne Bates and Marty Booker in the third round, linebackers Warrick Holdman and Rosevelt Colvin in the fourth and defensive back Jerry Azumah in the fifth. Nine rookies started at least one game.
Worst personnel moves
Drafting McNown and defensive tackle Russell Davis. McNown was the first-round pick and Davis the second-rounder. McNown lasted two seasons, and Davis, now starting for Arizona, just one. And when the Bears traded down to get McNown and extra picks, they gave up a shot at Daunte Culpepper.
Forgettable decision
Jauron’s decision to drop McNown into games for a series or two was silly. It may have led McNown to believe he was entitled to the starting job, and it automatically put him ahead of Miller on the depth chart.
Memorable moment
Bryan Robinson got his hand up and blocked a 28-yard field-goal attempt to preserve an emotional 14-13 victory at Green Bay on Nov. 7. It was the Bears’ first game after the death of Walter Payton. Before flying to Green Bay, the Bears attended a memorial service at Soldier Field.
Stars of the future?
In his first two years with the Bears, wide receiver Marcus Robinson had trouble catching the ball. In his third season, he emerged as a deep threat, setting a team record with 1,400 receiving yards. Robinson had 84 receptions, nine for touchdowns. In his first season as a starter, center Olin Kreutz was a Pro Bowl alternate.
Jauron on the season
“We were thinking playoffs. It doesn’t happen very often, but it was pretty clear toward the halfway point that an 8-8 team would make it, and now we see two 8-8 teams (Detroit and Dallas) got in. The feeling after the Rams game (ninth loss in Week 15) was very disappointing. It’s not a very good feeling when you’re out of it and you still have games to play. We want to make sure we’re not in that position again.”
By the numbers
916: Curtis Enis’ team-leading rushing yardage. But he averaged only 3.2 yards per carry.
7: Defensive end Clyde Simmons’ sacks, which led the Bears; the team finished with 37.
88: Bobby Engram’s team-leading receptions. At the time, it was second in team history behind Johnny Morris’ 93 in 1964.
2,025: Glyn Milburn’s all-purpose yards, second in NFL. He became the Bears’ first Pro Bowl player since 1994 when he was voted the NFC’s kick returner, averaging 23.4 yards on kickoffs and 11.5 on punts. Milburn’s selection ended the Bears’ five-year Pro Bowl drought.
THE BOTTOM LINE: 1999 GAME-BY-GAME REVIEW. 6-10, FIFTH PLACE
DATE, OPPONENT, RESULT, THE SKINNY
Sept. 12, Kansas City, W 20-17
In 1st career start, Shane Matthews throws for 245 yards, 2 TDs; Cade McNown 6-of-9.
Sept. 19, Seattle, L 14-12
Bears blow 13-0 lead after 3rd quarter as Glen Foley throws 2 TD passes.
Sept. 26, at Oakland, L 24-17
This time Bears lead 17-14 after 3rd quarter and lose.
Oct. 3, New Orleans, W 14-10
Matthews throws 2 touchdown passes in final two minutes.
Oct.10, at Minnesota, W 24-22
Marcus Robinson matches Randy Moss with 8 catches, but it’s not enough.
Oct. 17, Philadelphia, L 20-16
McNown makes his 1st start: hits 17-of-33 passes with 1 TD, 2 INT and a loss.
Oct. 24, at Tampa Bay, L 6-3
McNown goes 9-for-23 before being replaced by Jim Miller.
Oct. 31, at Washington, L 48-22
Really ugly loss: Bears trailed 45-0 in third quarter.
Nov. 7, at Green Bay, W 14-13
Bryan Robinson’s blocked field goal saves the game.
Nov. 14, Minnesota, L 27-24*
Jim Miller’s 3 TD passes in his 1st Bears start not enough.
Nov. 21, at San Diego, W 23-20*
Miller throws for 357 yards, Chris Boniol kicks winning FG.
Nov. 25, at Detroit, L 21-17
A long Thanksgiving Day: Bears fell behind 21-0 in 2nd quarter.
Dec. 5, Green Bay, L 35-19
Pull within 21-19, but two late TD runs by rookie De’Mond Parker seal it for GB.
Dec. 19, Detroit, W 28-10
McNown throws 4 TD passes, 3 to Marcus Robinson, 1 to Bobby Engram.
Dec. 26, at St. Louis, L 34-12
Super Bowl-bound Kurt Warner throws 3 TDs; Marshall Faulk 12 catches, 204 yds, TD.
Jan. 2, Tampa Bay, L 20-6
No happy new year for offense: no TD, McNown 20-of-42.
*–overtime
— Terry Bannon.
