Talks between the Bears and Dick Jauron regarding a contract extension for the head coach have picked up significantly in the last week, and a deal is hoped for by the end of this week.
Jauron’s agent, Don Yee, has been in touch with Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and has moved beyond what were slow-moving preliminary talks. Several issues remain to be resolved, one of which figures to be salary considering Steve Spurrier’s huge contract with Washington.
More Top Picks Bar Stools
“I’m hoping that by the end of the week we’ll have something,” Yee said. “I want to get something done, I know Dick does, and hopefully [the Bears] will as well.”
Jauron, who evened his Bears coaching record at 24-24 with a 13-3 regular season, has one season left on his original four-year deal that pays him about $1 million per season. Jauron is highly regarded by the McCaskey family for both his coaching and personal style and was the hire of former President Michael McCaskey in 1999.
Angelo said on Christmas Eve that the Bears would be willing to begin discussing an extension, but he gave no assurances one would necessarily be worked out.