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Jeremy Bates, who served as Jay Cutler’s quarterbacks coach during Cutler’s three seasons with the Denver Broncos from 2006-08, has been hired by the Bears to fill the same role.
With Bates as his position coach in 2008, Cutler was voted to the Pro Bowl while setting Broncos passing records for completions (384), attempts (616), yards (4,526) and 300-yard games (8). Cutler was sacked only 11 times while operating an offense that ranked second in the NFL in total yards.
Jeremy Bates and Jay Cutler had success together in three seasons with the Denver Broncos. In their three seasons together in Denver, Cutler completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 9,024 yards, 54 touchdowns, 37 interceptions and an 87.1 passer rating in 37 starts.
“His history with Jay was a big thing,” said coach Lovie Smith. “And not just history with Jay but a good history, a productive history with him helping Jay as a quarterback.”
Bates flew to Tampa to interview with Smith last week and then met with recently appointed offensive coordinator Mike Tice at Halas Hall.
“I did a lot of research and I think Jeremy is a perfect fit,” Smith said. “Did we look at other guys? Yes, we did. Every time we have an opening, I look at everybody available. I even waited to see who would be available so I could see what the pool really looked like.
“Even though we had only brought in one guy (former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Greg Olson), I had been talking to a lot of guys. But in the end, it was Jeremy by a landslide.”
Bates joins the Bears with eight years of coaching experience. He also worked as an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-04), New York Jets (2005) and University of Southern California (2009) before serving as offensive coordinator of a Seattle Seahawks team in 2010 that won the NFC West and defeated the New Orleans Saints in the wildcard round before losing to the Bears in the divisional playoffs.
“The one year he was a coordinator, he led their team to a division title and he just ran up against a juggernaut in the Chicago Bears,” Smith said with a smile. “We can’t hold that against him.
“I know he’s real excited about being a part of the group and helping Mike Tice and the rest of the offensive staff get the job done.”
With Bates as his position coach in 2008, Cutler was voted to the Pro Bowl while setting Broncos passing records for completions (384), attempts (616), yards (4,526) and 300-yard games (8). Cutler was sacked only 11 times while operating an offense that ranked second in the NFL in total yards.
Jeremy Bates and Jay Cutler had success together in three seasons with the Denver Broncos. In their three seasons together in Denver, Cutler completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 9,024 yards, 54 touchdowns, 37 interceptions and an 87.1 passer rating in 37 starts.
“His history with Jay was a big thing,” said coach Lovie Smith. “And not just history with Jay but a good history, a productive history with him helping Jay as a quarterback.”
Bates flew to Tampa to interview with Smith last week and then met with recently appointed offensive coordinator Mike Tice at Halas Hall.
“I did a lot of research and I think Jeremy is a perfect fit,” Smith said. “Did we look at other guys? Yes, we did. Every time we have an opening, I look at everybody available. I even waited to see who would be available so I could see what the pool really looked like.
“Even though we had only brought in one guy (former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Greg Olson), I had been talking to a lot of guys. But in the end, it was Jeremy by a landslide.”
Bates joins the Bears with eight years of coaching experience. He also worked as an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-04), New York Jets (2005) and University of Southern California (2009) before serving as offensive coordinator of a Seattle Seahawks team in 2010 that won the NFC West and defeated the New Orleans Saints in the wildcard round before losing to the Bears in the divisional playoffs.
“The one year he was a coordinator, he led their team to a division title and he just ran up against a juggernaut in the Chicago Bears,” Smith said with a smile. “We can’t hold that against him.
“I know he’s real excited about being a part of the group and helping Mike Tice and the rest of the offensive staff get the job done.”
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