Oft-interviewed Rivera hopes to Bolt

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Friday, February 16, 2007 11:36 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The oddity of the Chargers' head coaching position opening up in mid-February qualifies as superb timing for Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

Most NFL coaching jobs are filled in January, a time when Rivera was busy preparing Chicago's defense for two playoff games and then the Super Bowl. So Rivera, who interviewed with the Chargers on Friday, couldn't be happier that he can now fully concentrate on the interview process.

"One of the toughest things in terms of going to the Super Bowl is you miss out on opportunities," Rivera said shortly after his interview concluded. "The one with the Cowboys came up (after the Super Bowl) and now this one coming up is a good thing in terms of me getting an opportunity.

"It did help me out."

Rivera certainly couldn't have forecasted that the Chargers' job would open after a 14-2 campaign. But the firing of Marty Schottenheimer earlier this week gave Rivera his sixth interview since the regular season ended.

In early January, Rivera interviewed for openings in Arizona, Atlanta, Miami and Pittsburgh, coming up empty each time while having his time split between his Bears' job and impressing possible employers.

His interview for the Dallas job came two days after the Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl. Obviously, Rivera was still depressed over what had occurred 48 hours earlier.

Seeing former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips land the Cowboys job only added to his misery. At that point, he was convinced he would have to wait another season to get a head-coaching gig.

"I was a little disappointed not getting the Dallas job," Rivera said. "But then this one opened up, which was very exciting. I think it creates a great opportunity, and whoever gets the job is going to inherit a very good football team."

Rivera, 45, is the fourth candidate to interview for the post. His former Bears teammate Mike Singletary, San Francisco's assistant head coach, interviewed Wednesday; while Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner both interviewed Thursday.

Chargers president Dean Spanos indicated on Friday that he and general manager A.J. Smith are looking forward "to wrapping up the interview process in the coming days."

"This has been a very interesting process," Spanos said in a statement. "So far, we've met with four capable candidates. All are well qualified. All have outstanding passion for coaching and football. All have represented themselves in a first-class manner. It's clear to me they all have head-coaching ability."

Atlanta defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is slated to interview today. Zimmer was recently hired by the Falcons after being employed by Dallas for 13 seasons. He was the Cowboys' defensive coordinator the past seven years.

New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs is expected to interview on Sunday.

One person not in the mix is USC coach Pete Carroll, who publicly declared that he was "never interested" in coaching the Chargers.

"I just got tired of answering questions about the NFL because there's always a follow-up question from (the media), no matter what I say, so I decided I wouldn't say anything," Carroll told the Los Angeles Daily News. "I wasn't looking at it. I like where I'm at. I'm not going anywhere."

Meanwhile, Rivera is eagerly hoping he will land in San Diego. He feels his record of advancing deep in the playoffs could aid the Chargers' quest to end a four-game playoff losing streak that dates to the 1994 postseason.

In addition to this month's Super Bowl with the Bears, Rivera was on Philadelphia's staff when the Eagles played in the NFC Championship Game following the 2001-03 seasons. Philadelphia lost all three times.

"Having been to four NFC championships in the last (six) years, and getting to the Super Bowl, that's invaluable in terms of being able to relate to the players," said Rivera, who won a Super Bowl as a player with the 1985 Bears. "I think that's invaluable to be part of two staffs and building a winning program and in getting across to the players of what it takes to get to the next level."

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.

Who was in Friday: Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera

Scheduled in today: Atlanta defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer

Previously in: San Francisco assistant head coach Mike Singletary (Wednesday); Baltimore defensive

coordinator Rex Ryan (Thursday); San Francisco offensive coordinator Norv Turner (Thursday)

Waiting their turn: New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs; former Atlanta coach Jim Mora Jr.

A look at Ron Rivera, who interviewed for the Chargers' head-coaching position on Friday:

Age: 45

Current job: Chicago Bears defensive coordinator

Coaching resume: Spent past three seasons as Chicago's defensive coordinator. He began his coaching career by serving as a Bears assistant for two seasons (1997-98) before moving on to Philadelphia for five seasons (1999-03).

Playing career: Rivera played nine NFL seasons with the Bears (1984-92) and was a backup linebacker on the 1985 team that went 15-1 in the regular season and won the Super Bowl XX. Played college football at California, where he was a consensus All-American.

Outlook: Appears ready to make the jump to head coach after the strong defensive showings by the Bears the past two seasons. His 2005 defense ranked second in the NFL in total defense and the 2006 unit finished fifth. This is the sixth job he's interviewed for since the end of the 2006 regular season, including the Dallas job that went to Wade Phillips last week.

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