Tice to join Bears as offensive line coach

The Bears hired Mike Tice as their offensive line coach Friday afternoon, taking the first step in rebuilding a coaching staff that was thinned earlier this month when four assistants were fired and head coach Lovie Smith relinquished his role as defensive coordinator.

The 50-year-old Tice had a 14-year playing career in the NFL as a tight end with the Seahawks, Vikings and Redskins. He has been a coach in the NFL for the past 14 years, including the Vikings' head coach from 2002-05 plus one game in 2001 when he was the interim head coach. His teams were 33-34, including 1-1 in their only playoff appearances (2004).

Prior to that, Tice coached the Vikings' offensive line for five years. For the previous four years, Tice was the Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach, and in the final three he also coached the tight ends.

"I've had a chance to compete against Mike for a lot of years, and I always thought he did a great job with the offensive line," Bears coach Lovie Smith said on the team's Web site. "Mike has a presence about him, and his record speaks for itself."

Tice succeeds Harry Hiestand, who was fired along with offensive coordinator Ron Turner, tight ends coach Rob Boras and quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton at the conclusion of a 7-9 season, the Bears' third straight out of the playoffs.

The Bears still have to hire coordinators on both sides of the ball, plus positions coaches at tight end and quarterback.