Bears players packed their belongings and said goodbye to each other in a somber locker room Monday afternoon at Halas Hall.

Moments earlier, they learned officially what had been reported about an hour earlier. Coach Lovie Smith was fired after nine seasons with the franchise.

In a private farewell speech to his team, Smith told his players that he loved them and that he was proud of them. He was one of at least seven head coaches who reportedly were fired Monday after failing to lead their teams to the playoffs.