One of the first calls Mike Singletary made when he decided to get into the coaching business was to the Bears.
The Hall of Fame linebacker recounted the decision he made to get into the coaching business on Monday when visiting with reporters in San Francisco.
“Well, I’ll put it this way: When I knew we were going to be coaching, the thing that I did was I called Dick Jauron, who was then at the Bears, the head coach,” Singletary said. “And, I told Dick Jauron exactly this, I said, ‘Coach, my wife and I prayed about it, we’ve decided that we’re going to be coaching. I’m not asking you for a job, but I am telling you that this year, in the very near future, I will be coaching. I don’t know where, don’t know when.’ And, that was it.
“He said, ‘Well, Mike, good. Let me get back to you and see what’s happening here.’ And I said, ‘Once again, I understand, I’m not asking. If there’s something there, great, but let’s just not do something just to do it.’ So, he got back to me eventually and just said, ‘Mike, the way things are here, it just looks like it’s going to be a tough situation to work out.’ I said, ‘Fantastic. I thank you.’ And he just let me know that I’m not supposed to be there. So, that was it.”
Singletary landed his first job in 2003 as an inside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens on Brian Billick’s staff. It happened to be the final season for Jauron with the Bears, who employed Gary Moeller at the time as their linebackers coach. The Bears did bring in one former Bear to join their staff that season, Richard Dent. He served as an assistant defensive line coach that season.
Singletary worked in Baltimore until he went to San Francisco with Mike Nolan and took on a position as the assistant head coach. Now, he prepares to host the Bears on Thursday night. His 49ers (3-5) are reeling having lost four straight games to fall two back of NFC West-leading Arizona.
“Not in particular,” Singletary said when asked if he had special emotions for this meeting. “I’m just excited for the game. But, not emotions outside of the emotions that I have for any other team.”
