Some Bears fans say head coaching experience is a must. Others think it’s OK to hire a hot coordinator if he’s the right guy. Here’s a look at where the rest of teams in the league found their head coaches to start the 2003 season.
NFL head coaching experience
Mike Shanahan, Broncos. Shanahan cut his head-coaching teeth in Oakland in the late ’80s, but re-invented himself after the Broncos gave the 49ers quarterbacks coach another chance in 1995.
Dom Capers, Texans. Capers’ first head coaching job came with the Panthers, who fired him in ’98 after four seasons. He then replaced Dick Jauron in Jacksonville as defensive coordinator before Houston called in 2001.
Tony Dungy, Colts. A former defensive coordinator, Dungy fell into Colts’ lap when Buccaneers fired him after he became the club’s all-time winningest coach in six seasons.
Dick Vermeil, Chiefs. A 1999 Super Bowl title with the Rams more than qualified the guy who began his NFL coaching career in 1969 as a special-teams coach.
Marty Schottenheimer, Chargers. The definition of NFL retread, Schottenheimer had three head-coaching stops before San Diego hired him in 2002.
Dan Reeves, Falcons. Atlanta was the third NFL head-coaching job for a guy considered the brains behind the potent Cowboys’ offense in the late ’70s.
Dave Wannstedt, Dolphins. Bears gave Wannstedt six seasons of on-the-job training that have made the former defensive coordinator a better coach in Miami.
Bill Belichick, Patriots. Bill Parcells disciple had modest success during first head coaching experience in Cleveland in early ’90s, but established reputation as a defensive genius at his next stop as Patriots’ defensive coordinator.
Bill Parcells, Cowboys. Mr. Quick Fix, Parcells now can add the Cowboys to the Jets, the Giants and the Patriots on the list of NFL franchises he has turned around.
Steve Mariucci, Lions. Michigan native came back home known as one of the NFL’s best head coaches after six years in San Francisco.
Dennis Erickson, 49ers. Four seasons with the Seahawks and college head-coaching stops at four different schools gave Niners the experience they sought in replacing Mariucci.
Mike Holmgren, Seahawks. Once a 49ers’ offensive assistant under Bill Walsh, Holmgren went to Seattle with three Super Bowl rings and a reputation as the second-best head coach in Packers’ history.
Jon Gruden, Buccaneers. Al Davis gave Gruden his first head-coaching chance in Oakland after hiring the former offensive coordinator away from the Eagles.
Defensive assistants
Gregg Williams, Bills. Spent four seasons as Titans’ defensive coordinator, which was one more than he lasted as Bills’ head coach.
Marvin Lewis, Bengals. Last year’s Lovie Smith, Lewis was Ravens’ defensive coordinator for six seasons.
Jack Del Rio, Jaguars. Jacksonville hired 40-year-old Del Rio last year despite his having only one year as a defensive coordinator in Carolina and five years as an NFL assistant.
Herman Edwards, Jets. Edwards was Bucs’ assistant head coach and in charge of the secondary when the Jets hired him in 2001.
Bill Cowher, Steelers. Hired to replace Chuck Noll in 1992, Cowher first made his name in league circles as the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator under Marty Schottenheimer beginning in 1989.
Jeff Fisher, Titans. Fisher was the defensive coordinator when he took over for Jack Pardee with six games left in ’94. The franchise made him its permanent choice the last week of the season.
Dave McGinnis, Cardinals. Cardinals elevated the defensive coordinator in 2000 after firing Vince Tobin with nine games remaining.
John Fox, Panthers. Five seasons as Giants’ defensive coordinator convinced Carolina that Fox was ready to be a head coach in 2002.
Dick Jauron, Bears. Former Jaguars’ defensive coordinator kept scoring down in Chicago too.
Jim Haslett, Saints. Career defensive assistant replaced Mike Ditka as head coach in 2000 and promptly went 10-6 and won franchise’s first playoff game.
Offensive assistants
Brian Billick, Ravens. Passing-game whiz spent five years as Vikings’ offensive coordinator before taking over eventual Super Bowl champs in 1999.
Bill Callahan, Raiders. The native of the South Side was the beneficiary of Jon Gruden bolting for the Buccaneers in March 2002, when Al Davis gave the reins to his team’s offensive coordinator–but not for long.
Mike Sherman, Packers. Former Packers’ tight end coach followed Mike Holmgren to Seattle, where he was offensive coordinator before returning to Green Bay as head coach in 2000.
Mike Tice, Vikings. Offensive line coach took over for Dennis Green in 2002 with no experience as head coach or coordinator.
Jim Fassel, Giants. New York hired Fassel in 1997 when he was the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator. His only head-coaching experience before that was at the University of Utah.
Andy Reid, Eagles. Reid learned offense under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay and Eagles’ gamble on first-time head coach in 1999 has paid off.
Mike Martz, Rams. Vermeil’s coordinator succeeded him in 2000 after Vermeil retired while celebrating Super Bowl XXXIV.
College coaches
Butch Davis, Browns. Cleveland took him from the University of Miami in 2001, and three years later he’s a symbol of caution for GMs considering college coaches. Davis was a Cowboys assistant in the early ’90s.
Steve Spurrier, Redskins. Latest example of how different the NFL can be for college coaches, Spurrier struggled and was gone after just two years despite spending 12 years as head coach at Florida.
