10-6 but no Playoffs again do in Lovie Smith who is out as Bears Coach after nine seasons.

LAKE FOREST—On a typical “Black Monday” many NFL Coaches were fired. For the first time in nine years,the Bears are looking for a Head Coach. Lovie Smith was told by General Manager Phil Emery that he will not return for the last season on his contract.The Bears won 10 games, including a wins over hapless Cardinals and Lions, but missed the playoffs for the second straight year. In nine seasons with the Bears Smiuth went 81-63, including a Super Bowl appearance in February 2007 but they lost to the Colts. The Bears also made the NFC Title game two years ago,but fell to the Packers.The Bears have now missed the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, and the offense almost always lagged behind the defense. Smith came to the Bears from St. Louis, where he was the defensive coordinator under Mike Martz.He claimed he could beat Green Bay and had early success against the Bears chief rivals,but they have now lost six straight to the Packers and Lovie’s overall mark against them was 6-10. Emery will meet the Media Tuesday Morning at Halas Hall.

LES