New coach Marc Trestman has brought back a member of a previous coach staff but not exactly one of the more expected ones.Matt Cavanaugh, who was Dave Wannstedts offensive coordinator in the 4-12 seasons of 1997 and 1998, will replace Jeremy Bates as quarterbacks coach. With Trestman himself a major coaching figure with quarterbacks, adding Cavanaugh takes the care and feeding of Jay Cutler to a new level.
Cavanaugh worked as quarterbacks coach with the San Francisco 49ers in 1996 while Trestman was offensive coordinator.After leaving the Bears when the Wannstedt staff was let go after the 1998 season, Cavanaugh was the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator from 1999-2004, working under coach Brian Billick during the Ravens Super Bowl season of 2000.Cavanaugh spent the last four seasons working with New York Jets quarterbacks, one of more chaotic position groups in the NFL with Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow and the upheaval around coach Rex Ryan. The Jets reached the AFC Championship game in Cavanaughs first two seasons with Sanchez posting a passer rating of 94.3. But Sanchez and the Jets slumped to 8-8 in 2011 and 6-10 last season.Cavanaugh worked as Wannstedts offensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh from 2005-2008 before leaving to join the Ravens.During his first stint with the Bears, Cavanaugh coached Erik Kramer to 3,011 passing yards in 1997, which at the time was fourth-highest in franchise history and still eighth highest. The 3,501 gross passing yards in 1997 are fifth most in franchise history. That year running back Raymont Harris had 1,033 rushing yards marking one of just five times in Bears history they have produced a 3,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher in the same season. Despite injuries to the quarterback position in 1998, the Bears offense produced 3,277 passing yards as wideout Bobby Engram had 987 receiving yards, 13th most in franchise single-season recordds.Cavanaugh won two Super Bowl titles as a backup quarterback with the New York Giants (XXV) and the 49ers (XIX).