The Bears have hired former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice as the team’s offensive line coach.
While general manager Jerry Angelo insisted the team is taking their time hiring coaches, the Bears quickly added Tice, one of the league’s most respected offensive line coaches.
After playing tight end for 12 NFL seasons, Tice worked his way up the coaching ranks with the Vikings, starting as a tight ends coach and ascending to head coach before his ouster after the 2005 season finale.
Tice developed several key offensive linemen, most notably former sixth-round pick Matt Birk, who developed into a perennial Pro Bowl center.
Tice has spent the last four seasons in Jacksonville, working under former Vikings teammate Jack Del Rio.