The Chicago Bears have denied the Minnesota Vikings the chance to talk to secondary coach Jon Hoke, reports ESPN Chicago.

“If a coach can better himself, get a better job or whatever, these things happen this time of year,” Bears head coach Lovie Smith said at the end of the season of his assistants potentially getting job offers elsewhere. “I realize that because I’ve been in that position before.”

Hoke is currently signed through 2012 and has been with the Bears for the past three seasons.

Hoke started his NFL coaching career in 2002 as a secondary coach for the Houston Texans and remained with the Texans through 2005. He joined the Bears in 2009, where he is currently the defensive backs coach.