Chicago Bears

The chance to work with a talented secondary and join one of the NFL's charter franchises made the job appealing. But new Bears defensive backs coach Perry Fewell left the Rams for the same position in Chicago primarily because of Lovie Smith.

"There's no doubt about it-he is the main reason," said Fewell, who worked under Smith in 2003 when the Bears head coach was defensive coordinator in St. Louis. "If I can help him become successful, that's even better. I've got that much respect for him."

Although Smith went 5-11 during an injury-plagued first year in Chicago, Fewell wouldn't have rejoined his old friend had he not believed the Bears were on the cusp of a breakthrough season. "I think he can get it done," Fewell said. "Chicago has a young, up-and-coming team and you want to be a part of that building process to say, 'Hey, I helped that rejuvenation for the Bears.'

"I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with him in St. Louis, and now that he's become a head coach, having the opportunity to be a little piece of the puzzle to help him and the Bears be successful, it's a very exciting time for me."

Fewell was hired Jan. 20 to replace Vance Bedford, who left the Bears after six seasons to become defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.

Prior to joining the Rams, Fewell spent five seasons as defensive backs coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Beginning his NFL career on the road against the Bears in the 1998 opener, Fewell remembers being awed by his surroundings.

"We were on the field at old Soldier Field and I was just looking around thinking of all the great players that had played there," he said. "Gale Sayers was one of the honorary captains for that game and I thought, 'Man, what a neat opportunity to be able to coach at Soldier Field.'"

Fewell has advanced to the playoffs in four of seven NFL seasons and coached two Pro Bowlers, safety Carnell Lake in Jacksonville in 1999 and safety Aeneas Williams in St. Louis in 2003. Fewell helped the Rams tie for fourth in the NFL with 24 interceptions in 2003 and helped the Jaguars set a franchise record with 19 interceptions in 1999.

Fewell began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina in 1985-86. He then coached defensive backs at Army (1987), wide receivers at Kent State (1988-91), defensive linemen back at Army (1992-94) and defensive backs at Vanderbilt (1995-97).

Fewell is the second defensive assistant who worked with Smith in St. Louis to rejoin him in Chicago. Linebackers coach Bob Babich was hired as part of Smith's original staff a year ago.

"Anytime you enjoy the people you work with," Fewell said, "it's always a good thing."

Hard-hitting safety Mike Brown leads a talented and deep Bears secondary.Fewell especially admires Smith's upbeat attitude and how the head coach deals with players.

"He can give constructive criticism, but you don't take it personally," Fewell said. "One of my players in St. Louis described it like it's your dad giving you a spanking, but you know it's in your best interest."

In Chicago, Fewell will coach a talented and deep secondary that includes safeties Mike Brown, Mike Green and Todd Johnson and cornerbacks Charles Tillman, Jerry Azumah, Nathan Vasher and R.W. McQuarters.

"We have some good football players in the back row," Fewell said. "I like the young corners. Mike Brown is definitely one of the catalysts for the secondary. I love his energy and what he displays on the field. Mike Green's a very solid football player. There's good depth and players with play-making ability. I'm walking into a good situation."

It would probably be more appropriate to say that he's "running" into a good situation. Like his predecessor, Fewell is a high-energy coach who has no problem expressing his exuberance.

"I think Vance and I are somewhat similar in that respect," he said. "I'm very hands-on and very excitable. I coach through my players in that I still think I can get out and run and jam and do those things until my legs start to hurt and my back starts to hurt and they're outrunning me."