Rivera jumps from Bears to Chargers

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera has jumped to San Diego where he will be the Chargers' linebackers coach.

Chargers Coach Norv Turner, appointed to that position Monday, tapped Rivera, who was one six men who interviewed for the Chargers' top spot. Turner replaced Marty Schottenheimer, who was fired last week despite San Diego posting an NFL-best 14-2 regular season record last year.

Rivera was a linebacker on the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Bears team and helped the organization return to the Super Bowl this past season. He coordinated a Chicago defense that ranked among the NFL leaders over the last three seasons.

Rivera has 10 years of assistant coaching experience, with stops in Philadelphia and Chicago.