"A day after the Bears' 8-8 season ended, coach Lovie Smith was optimistic that his assistants would be in demand.

"Hopefully, we'll have guys on our staff that get an opportunity to move up," Smith said. "I would like to see where some guys on our staff would get the opportunity to be head coaches in the NFL, too."

After interviewing for the Miami Dolphins' head-coaching position, Dave Toub signed a two-year contract extension on Tuesday. "