Dick Jauron started the 2001 season with a new boss and an assumed win-or-else dictum. He ended it as the NFL coach of the year, an honor he received on the day the Bears lost their playoff opener in the final game at old Soldier Field.
After watching the Bears go 11-21 over two seasons and make the playoffs just once in the previous nine years, Bears president Ted Phillips decided the team needed a change in management structure. Personnel director Mark Hatley, who didn’t have authority over Jauron, left in March in an agreement both sides called, in a bit of tortured terminology, a “mutual termination.”
With the help of an executive search firm, on June 12 Phillips named Tampa Bay personnel director Jerry Angelo the team’s first general manager in 15 years.
Before opening day, Jauron and Angelo made major changes, releasing veterans linebacker Sean Harris, defensive tackle Mike Wells, wide receiver Bobby Engram and defensive end Clyde Simmons and officially giving up on quarterback Cade McNown by trading him to Miami. All had played regularly in 2000.
The new look worked as the Bears produced an eight-game turnaround to go 13-3 and win their first NFC Central title since 1990.
It has gone down as one of the most serendipitous seasons in Bears history. They had few injuries and made big plays.
New starters like defensive tackles Keith Traylor and Ted Washington made a difference, shoring up the middle of the defense. Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin emerged as a pass-rusher, leading the Bears with 10 1/2 sacks.
But everything that went right all year went wrong on Jan. 19 at Soldier Field. The Philadelphia Eagles physically dominated the Bears and won 33-19 in the NFC semifinals.
But Jauron had won enough to save his job, and his contract was extended through the 2004 season.
As the Bears prepare for Sunday’s season finale in Kansas City, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be fired–or brought back in another win-or-else situation.
Quarterback factor
It didn’t take long for the annual quarterback injury issue to come up. Jim Miller, who missed the last six games of 2000 with a torn Achilles tendon, pulled a hamstring on the first day of training camp, putting Shane Matthews back in charge. Miller took over when Matthews strained rib muscles in the second week of the season and missed only one other game–Cleveland–with a hip-pointer. But he suffered a separated shoulder in the second quarter of the playoff loss to Philadelphia.
Turning point
The Bears were a 4-1 team with growing confidence when San Francisco came to Soldier Field on Oct. 28. The 49ers led 28-9 early in the third quarter, and Miller had suffered the hip-pointer. Then Matthews hit David Terrell with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and Anthony Thomas ran for a two-point conversion that tied the game 31-31 to force overtime.
Then, in a play that symbolized the good fortune the Bears enjoyed all year, safety Mike Brown intercepted a tipped pass and returned it 33 yards to win the game.
Health factor
The Bears had amazing luck in avoiding injuries. Wide receiver Marcus Robinson missed the last 11 games with torn knee ligaments, but the rest of the starters stayed healthy.
Good personnel moves
Signing free agent defensive tackles Washington and Traylor, who dominated the middle and allowed Brian Urlacher to roam free.
Next-best personnel move
Signing free agent punter Brad Maynard from NFC champion New York Giants solved a nagging problem.
Bad personnel moves
Receiver Engram was cut in training camp, but has gone on to play well for Seattle.
Jauron after the playoff loss
“It was a very good season. These guys, the players and assistant coaches, really deserve a lot of credit for putting together a remarkable year under a lot of pressure. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this football season or this staff.”
By the numbers
5
Bears in the Pro Bowl, their most in 10 years: center Olin Kreutz, offensive tackle James “Big Cat” Williams, defensive tackle Washington, linebacker Urlacher and special teamer Larry Whigham.
1,183
Rushing yards by Thomas, a Bears’ rookie record. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry and ran for seven touchdowns and was voted NFL offensive rookie of the year.
100
Receptions by Marty Booker, a Bears record. He averaged 10.7 yards per reception and caught eight touchdown passes.
133-53
Margin by which the Bears outscored opponents in the fourth quarter and overtime.
3
Interceptions returned for touchdowns; two by Mike Brown, one by Walt Harris.
