Although the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles have defensive coordinator openings and ex-Bears coach Lovie Smith would be a respectable choice for either job, Smith’s plans for 2013 reportedly don’t involve coaching in the NFL.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Smith plans to sit out the upcoming season and return as a head coach in 2014.
Fired by the Bears on the morning of December 31, Smith spent nine years as Chicago’s head coach, compiling an 84-66 regular season record with three NFC North championships and one Super Bowl trip. Sitting out a full season and returning in a top job is often easier said than done, but Jeff Fisher did it in 2012 and it’s obviously not impossible.
Smith will be 56 years old when the 2014 season starts. He is three months younger than Fisher.