After this season ends, Lovie Smith may be busy filling coaching vacancies. The Chicago Sun-Times reports (Brad Biggs, "Rivera in demand for coaching jobs; Turner talking, too," 1/5/2007):

The suitors keep lining up for Ron Rivera, while Ron Turner also is drawing some interest.

Rivera, the Bears' defensive coordinator, was back at practice Thursday at Halas Hall but will meet with the Atlanta Falcons today and is expected to visit with the Miami Dolphins on Saturday as those teams work to fill their head-coaching vacancies.

And the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to be granted permission to meet with Rivera after Bill Cowher told his assistants Thursday that he is stepping down after 15 seasons. Rivera could meet with the Steelers on Sunday or after the Bears' season ends.

The Dolphins also received permission to interview Turner, the Bears' offensive coordinator and a former head coach at Illinois and San Jose State.
. . . .
The Bears could end up losing more than Rivera. Quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson is known to have been Rivera's choice as an offensive coordinator when he interviewed with St. Louis and Green Bay last season, and it's believed that Rivera would take Wilson with him to the Cardinals if he gets that job.

A strong coaching staff is so important for success in the NFL that, if the Bears do lose some of their assistants, let's hope Smith is able to find quality replacements.