Bears lose special-teams aide Tabor to Browns

Well now really need to keep Toub, had a feeling he would get another job,

Bears lose special-teams aide Tabor to Browns

January 25, 2011 3:35 PM | No Comments

By Brad Biggs

Lovie Smith said Monday that he hoped to keep his coaching staff intact but said that some change has been inevitable every year.

Change came Tuesday as the Cleveland Browns moved quickly to hire Chris Tabor as their special teams coordinator. Tabor spent the past three seasons as the assistant special teams coach under Dave Toub, who had been promoting him around the league. Tabor will take over for Brad Seely, one of the best special teams coaches in the league, who left for the San Francisco 49ers.

The Bears have been excellent on special teams in seven seasons under Toub and he has given a good deal of credit to Tabor, 39, whom the players respond well to. The Browns had sought permission to speak with Washington Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith, but that was denied.

The Browns moved quickly to snap up Tabor after the Bears' season ended Sunday. He was coming out of contract, but they still had to grant permission to the Bears.

Toub likely was instrumental in Tabor getting the job, as he worked with new Browns coach Pat Shurmur in Philadelphia. Tabor goes from working with Devin Hester to working with another Pro Bowl return man in Joshua Cribbs.

Bears assistant special teams coach Chris Tabor made that transition Tuesday when he was hired by the Cleveland Browns as their special teams coordinator. Now, he goes from working with the NFL's all-time leader in return touchdowns to Cribbs, whose 10 career returns for scores are just four shy of Hester's total.
"When we played them last year, studying them and watching them, I know how dangerous he is," Tabor said of Cribbs. "I feel fortunate to be on the other side of it. Now, I'm on his team. They're both great returners. Both great guys."

The Browns, who replaced Brad Seely after he left for the San Francisco 49ers, moved quickly to hire Tabor. They called the Bears for permission to speak with him Monday morning. Tabor flew to Cleveland Tuesday morning and was back before dinner with a new job. He met with new head coach Pat Shurmur and Gil Haskell, an assistant to team president Mike Holmgren.

"You're selling the system," said the 39-year-old Tabor. "They were talking to me because the Bears have been very successful and I've had the great opportunity to be a part of that. They want to know about the system and how it can be implemented there in Cleveland and hopefully get the same type of results."

The Browns have had one of the best special teams units in the NFL, ranking No. 1 last year in the comprehensive rankings popularized by Dallas Morning News writer Rick Gosselin.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com...ns-cribbs.html

Suprised Toub hasn't gotten a lot of looks.

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Suprised Toub hasn't gotten a lot of looks.

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Toub would need a HC offer, which is a Big move from ST, we can block any "sideways" move

I really hope Toub is staying in Chicago.

Tice is the only one i'm worried about. I really don't see Marinelli or Martz getting another shot @ HC...

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Originally Posted by Henry Burris

Tice is the only one i'm worried about. I really don't see Marinelli or Martz getting another shot @ HC...

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As most jobs already filled, don't see him going anywhere for 2011

Is Toub an Assistant Head coach? If not, he can leave to any gig, maybe an OC with an Assistant tag

Bears have re hired Kevin O'Dea who previously held Tabors position in '06 and '07.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com...ial-teams.html

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Is Toub an Assistant Head coach? If not, he can leave to any gig, maybe an OC with an Assistant tag

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While 'could" go OC/DC he has no experience there, so can't see any team offering a ST coach a OC/DC job, that's why said HC.. ala harbaugh in Balt.