LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Dick Jauron has had a special bond with the Chicago Bears since he was a little boy, playing on the sidelines at their training camp.

	Dick Jauron will get an extension to his contract with the Bears.

It's a connection he cherishes -- and one that's now assured of lasting for the foreseeable future.

Ending weeks of speculation, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo announced Monday that he and Jauron will negotiate a contract extension after the season. Jauron has one season left on his original, four-year deal.

"This is where it started and the history is with us and I like being a part of it," said Jauron, who grew up watching the Bears train at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., where his father was the coach.

"It's a good feeling to be a part of that line, to be in that tradition and try to hold it up."

While Jauron is just 22-24 in two-plus seasons in Chicago, he's become one of the NFL's hottest coaches for directing the Bears' stunning turnaround. After going just 5-11 last year and not expected to do much better than .500, the Bears are 11-3 and on their way to the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

They have 11 victories for the first time since 1991, and have a one-game lead in the NFC Central with two weeks left.

Jauron is a Coach of the Year candidate, and linebacker Brian Urlacher is making a case for Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Bears also should send several players to the Pro Bowl.

"I can't be any happier in terms of the good work that Dick has done and his staff," Angelo said. "What our staff has done this season speaks for itself. I know that San Francisco and Pittsburgh have had Cinderella stories, but they didn't come into the same situation. Our staff rose to the occasion and we've handled adversity."

While Angelo told Jauron about the extension last week, they haven't discussed any details, such as length of the deal or how much he'll be paid. There's also no timetable, though Angelo said he wants it done before the start of next season.

But both said a deal will get done.

"If your relationship is built on trust and you feel you have a good relationship all those things will fall into place," Angelo said. "And if I didn't feel that, I wouldn't be up here now."

After going 11-21 in his first two seasons, most assumed the Bears had to make the playoffs this year to save Jauron's job. Chicago hadn't had a winning season since 1995, and team president Ted Phillips made it clear that would no longer be tolerated when he hired Angelo, Chicago's first GM since 1986.

Though Phillips guaranteed Jauron's job for this season -- Angelo was hired in June, too late to bring in a new coaching staff -- it was clear any future decisions would be the GM's.

The two had never worked together, and many wondered if Angelo would want to bring in his own person. Angelo said repeatedly he wouldn't evaluate Jauron until the end of the season, using the time to see how the team did and how he and Jauron worked together.

But there was a point before the season began that Angelo realized Jauron was the right guy. Asked to make a tough decision on a player, Jauron did it, knowing it was the best thing for the team.

"It told me then that these were team players," Angelo said. "From there I said this could be a good thing, and the winning just personified all that."

Though the Bears lost their first game, they won their next six in a row. They haven't lost two in a row all year, and they've rebounded from all of their defeats with convincing victories.

As the Bears' surprising run continued, there were increasing calls for Angelo to make a decision. But Jauron never asked for a vote of confidence or pressured Angelo to announce anything.

Even after they talked last week, Jauron never let on.

"I never felt like I was auditioning," he said. "I just felt like I was coaching the team and I tried to do the best I can."

Jauron also said he never felt that his future was a distraction to his team. His players were solidly behind him, and weren't hesitant about saying it.

And now they'll have Jauron around for a few more years.

"I'm really glad that it worked out well," Jauron said. "I feel very lucky to have been here from the first day, to coach the Chicago Bears, which is a charter franchise. I can't tell you how exciting it's been. And I hope it stays that way."