Bears sign Seahawks' DeBord as tight ends coach

The hiring of tight ends coach Mike DeBord on Tuesday evening leaves Bears coach Lovie Smith with just two more gaps to fill on his coaching staff.

DeBord, 53, is the only candidate who interviewed for the job that was held for the previous six years by Rob Boras, a Glenbard West High School graduate, who was fired along with offensive coordinator Ron Turner, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton.

DeBord spent the past two seasons with the Seahawks as an offensive line assistant under Mike Holmgren in 2008 and tight ends coach for Jim Mora in 2009.

Under DeBord, Seahawks second-year tight end John Carlson caught 51 passes for 574 yards and a team-leading 7 touchdowns in 2009.

Prior to joining the Seahawks, DeBord spent 26 seasons coaching in the college ranks, including 12 years at Michigan (1992-99 and 2004-07). In between those stints, DeBord was the head coach at Central Michigan University for four seasons (2000-03).

He was also an assistant coach at Fort Hays (1984-86), Eastern Illinois University (1987-88), Ball State (1989), Colorado State (1990-91) and Northwestern (1992) before joining the Michigan staff.

DeBord joins new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who was hired Monday, and offensive line coach Mike Tice, who was hired Jan. 15.

The Bears are still without a quarterbacks coach, and Smith said Monday that Martz will have input into that decision. Only Perry Fewell has interviewed for the defensive coordinator post, but he took the same job with the New York Giants. Smith hinted Monday that the defensive coordinator position could be filled internally, which would seem to point directly at assistant head coach/defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.