Bears' Rivera Could Be Coach of Cowboys

from the AP Sports
Thu Feb 1, 9:14 AM

MIAMI - Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera may have a job opportunity after the Super Bowl - as coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Rivera, interviewed for several head coaching jobs the past two seasons, reportedly has emerged as the latest candidate to replace Bill Parcells in Dallas.

"I haven't talked to anybody in Dallas," Rivera said Thursday morning at the team hotel. "Nobody has told me anything."

Rivera said his wife called him after Wednesday's practice and informed him of the report on ESPN.com. The report also said that leading candidate Norv Turner told Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that if he got the job he'd want Rivera as defensive coordinator.

"I don't want to be a distraction," Rivera said.

The Bears play the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday's Super Bowl.

Coaches of teams in the game are off limits for job interviews until Monday.

Last year, Rivera was a candidate for head coaching jobs with the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams. And this season, he was a contender for jobs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.

Jones said Wednesday he wouldn't name Parcells' replacement until after the Super Bowl. He already has interviewed eight candidates.

"We've got a good football team, and I've got to get this right," Jones said. "We've got to make a good decision when we select the next coach. We're going to have the opportunity and a plan in place that will allow us to do that."