Bears hire Bates as quarterbacks coach
Share This Story
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP)
The Chicago Bears hired Jeremy Bates on Tuesday to coach their quarterbacks, reuniting him with Jay Cutler.
Bates was out of the league last season, but he worked well with Cutler as an assistant for three years in Denver. In Chicago, he will serve under new offensive coordinator Mike Tice.
Cutler had a strained relationship with former Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner during their lone season together in 2009 and took a beating at times the past two years in Mike Martz's system. But Bates played a key role in his development.
''His history with Jay was a big thing,'' coach Lovie Smith told the team's website. ''And not just history with Jay but a good history, a productive history with him helping Jay as a quarterback.''
Cutler said the Bears hired the right man.
''He was very vital in my growth and my experience as a quarterback (in Denver),'' Cutler told the team's website. ''The last couple years he had full control of my development and our plays coming in. He's a grinder. He's a guy that's going to work extremely hard to find weaknesses in defenses and he's going to be able to present it to us in a way that we understand and will be able to make plays where we can take advantage of those weaknesses.''
Cutler enjoyed some his most productive seasons when they worked together from 2006 to 2008 in Denver. He threw for a franchise-record 4,526 yards in 2008 with Bates as his position coach and made the Pro Bowl, but there were big changes following that season.
Mike Shanahan got fired, and Cutler was traded to the Bears following a fallout with new coach Josh McDaniels.
Bates, meanwhile, bolted for Southern California and served as the Trojans' assistant head coach of the offense and quarterbacks coach in 2009. He left with coach Pete Carroll to become Seattle's offensive coordinator but was fired after the 2010 season. The Seahawks made the playoffs and lost to the Bears, but their offense ranked among the league's worst that year.
Bates, who also has been an assistant with Tampa Bay (2002-2004) and the New York Jets (2005), interviewed with Smith in Tampa last week. He then met with Tice at the team's headquarters.
The Bears also interviewed former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
''I did a lot of research and I think Jeremy is a perfect fit,'' Smith told the team's website. ''Did we look at other guys? Yes, we did. Every time we have an opening, I look at everybody available. I even waited to see who would be available so I could see what the pool really looked like. Even though we had only brought in one guy (Olson), I had been talking to a lot of guys. But in the end, it was Jeremy by a landslide.''
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Report: UFC Octagon vixen arrested
Report: UFC Octagon vixen Arianny Celeste arrested. -
Dario Franchitti wins 2012 Indy 500
Dario Franchitti holds off late charge, wins third Indy 500. -
Skydiver dies after both chutes fail
A veteran skydiver died in a horror accident in Australia over the weekend, when both... -
Report: Vick event sparks backlash
A seemingly innocuous visit from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick caused ... -
Two killed as rally car strikes crowd
A race car went out of control on a rural Irish road and crashed into a crowd of abou...
NFL Videos
Schrager: Settle down everyone
Posted: May 23, 2012
Peter Schrager talks about Peyton Manning's first practice and Tim Tebow's contr...
Peter Schrager talks about Peyton Manning's first practice and Tim Tebow's contr...
Jackson looks back
Posted: May 22, 2012
Laura Okmin sits down with Rams RB Steven Jackson about life on and off the fiel...
Laura Okmin sits down with Rams RB Steven Jackson about life on and off the fiel...
Glazer: LT unaware ring for sale
Posted: May 18, 2012
Jay Glazer says Lawrence Taylor was unaware his Super Bowl XXV ring was put up f...
Jay Glazer says Lawrence Taylor was unaware his Super Bowl XXV ring was put up f...
NFL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike New Orleans Saints Ladies Team Established V-Neck T-Shirt - Gold | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_Orleans_Saints/browse/featuredproduct/792884/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_792000/ff_792884_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike New Orleans Saints Ladies Team Established V-Neck T-Shirt - Gold |
| Nike New York Jets Legend Authentic Football Font Performance T-Shirt - Green | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Jets/browse/featuredproduct/799723/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_799000/ff_799723_xl.jpg&w=100 | 29.95 | Nike New York Jets Legend Authentic Football Font Performance T-Shirt - Green |
| Nike Arizona Cardinals Just Do It T-Shirt - Red | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Arizona_Cardinals/browse/featuredproduct/800436/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800436_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Arizona Cardinals Just Do It T-Shirt - Red |
| Nike Denver Broncos Blockbuster T-Shirt - Navy Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/801105/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_801000/ff_801105_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Denver Broncos Blockbuster T-Shirt - Navy Blue |
| New Era New England Patriots 2012 NFL Draft Fitted Hat - Navy Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/803136/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_803000/ff_803136_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era New England Patriots 2012 NFL Draft Fitted Hat - Navy Blue |
| Nike Justin Tuck New York Giants #91 Replica Name & Number T-Shirt - Royal Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/819243/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_819000/ff_819243_xl.jpg&w=100 | 31.95 | Nike Justin Tuck New York Giants #91 Replica Name & Number T-Shirt - Royal Blue |
| Nike Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Royal Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Indianapolis_Colts/browse/featuredproduct/851313/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851313_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Royal Blue |
| Nike Robert Griffin Washington Redskins 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Burgundy | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Washington_Redskins/browse/featuredproduct/851315/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851315_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Robert Griffin Washington Redskins 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Burgundy |
| Nike Trent Richardson Cleveland Browns 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Brown | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Cleveland_Browns/browse/featuredproduct/851598/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851598_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Trent Richardson Cleveland Browns 2012 Draft Game Jersey - Brown |
| Nike Morris Claiborne Dallas Cowboys 2012 NFL Draft Game Jersey - Navy Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Cowboys/browse/featuredproduct/852589/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_852000/ff_852589_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Morris Claiborne Dallas Cowboys 2012 NFL Draft Game Jersey - Navy Blue |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.