Bears fire Angelo after 11 seasons
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| Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo watches his team during NFL football training camp in Bourbonnais on Aug. 1, 2011. On Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, the Bears announced Angelo has been fired following a team collapse marked by injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte and a drug scandal involving receiver Sam Hurd. The announcement ends Angelo's 11-year reign in which the Bears reached one Super Bowl and advanced to another NFC championship game. (AP File Photo/Nam Y. Huh) |
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The Bears fired general manager Jerry Angelo on Tuesday after 11 seasons with the team.
Team president Ted Phillips informed Angelo on Tuesday morning that he would not return for the 2012 season, the Bears announced. A news conference has been scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Bears also said Lovie Smith would return as head coach next season. It's uncertain whether the same goes for Smith's assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Angelo was under contract through the 2013 season, and he was expected to return after he shot down rumors that he was considering early retirement.
During Angelo's tenure, the Bears won four division championships and reached the Super Bowl for the first time in more than two decades. However, the Bears missed the playoffs four times in the past five years, and a string of disappointing draft picks led to problems on the depth chart.
This season, the Bears' depth issues were exposed after injuries to franchise quarterback Jay Cutler and Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte. The Bears lost five consecutive games after Cutler's injury and finished the season 8-8.
-Tom Musick
Correction: The original version of this story left out the word 'not' in in the second paragraph and incorrectly read that Angelo would be returning.
