LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears Friday rewarded Dick Jauron for a 2001 season that far exceeded expectations, signing the coach to a three-year contract through 2004.
Financial terms were not disclosed. ESPN reported the Bears tore up the final season of a four-year contract Jauron signed in 1999 and that the new contract is worth between $2 million to $2.5 million a year.
The Bears finished last in the NFC Central three straight years, including the first two seasons under Jauron, before posting a 13-3 mark in 2001 for the franchise's first division title since 1990.
Chicago made its first postseason appearance since 1994 and was defeated by Philadelphia in the divisional round.
Despite the success, it took nearly two months of negotiations with general manager Jerry Angelo before reaching a deal. Angelo had refused to comment publicly on Jauron's job status during much of last season.
In recent days, the Bears also agreed to three-year contracts with six of Jauron's assistants.
The 51-year-old Jauron is 24-24 in three seasons. He spent four seasons as defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars Jauron and nine seasons as defensive backs coach for the Green Bay Packers before being hired by the Bears.
The Bears also hired Gary Moeller as linebackers coach and signed him to a three-year contract.
Moeller recently resigned under pressure as defensive coordinator of the Jaguars. He served as interim coach of the Detroit Lions at the end of the 2000 season, compling a 4-3 record following the resignation of Bobby Ross.
