Raiders request permission to talk to Mike Tice for coaching vacancy
By Sean Jensen sjensen@suntimes.com January 17, 2012 10:56PM
Updated: January 17, 2012 10:56PM
The Bears just promoted Mike Tice from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator.
But the Oakland Raiders requested permission to speak to Tice about their head-coaching vacancy, according to two league sources.
The Raiders hired former Green Bay Packers football operations director Reggie McKenzie as general manager a week ago. McKenzie announced the ouster of coach Hue Jackson, who was the coach for one season. Since then, the Raiders interviewed Miami Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and Packers assistants Winston Moss, Dom Capers and Joe Philbin.
After playing 14 NFL seasons as a tight end, Tice rose through the coaching ranks and became the Minnesota Vikings’ coach in 2002. After the Vikings defeated the Bears in the 2005 season finale, pushing his team’s record to 9-7, Tice immediately was informed of his ouster.
The Vikings hired Brad Childress, who was fired late in the 2010 season after his team started 3-7.
NOTE: Last week, the Bears interviewed Greg Olson for the team’s vacant quarterbacks coach/passing-game coordinator position. That job hasn’t been filled, and coaches are on vacation this week.
