Chicago Bears interview New England Patriots Jason Licht for GM stint - NFL News
The Chicago Bears are on the hunt for a new General Manager and the Bears took a step closer to finding the right candidate when they interviewed New England Patriots' director of pro personnel, Jason Licht, on Monday, January 16, 2012.
According to sources, the Bears received permission to talk to Licht and he has become the first candidate to be interviewed for the job.
Licht is one of the four candidates the Bears have shortlisted for the position, including Kansas City Chiefs’ head of college scouting, Phil Emery, New York Giants’ head of College Scouting, Marc Ross, and player personnel director, Jimmy Raye of the San
Diego Chargers.
He rejoined the Patriots in 2009 in his current capacity.
Licht is an experienced executive in the National Football League (NFL), having spent a total of 16 years with various franchises.
The Patriots' director was first with the Massachusetts based franchise from 1999-2002 as their college scout, before leaving to become the director of player personnel in many other franchises.
Chicago Bears, who ended the season with a poor 8-8 record, had fired previous GM, Jerry Angelo, as his draft choices to back up for some of the Bears' stars failed to perform at the required level and their poor performances cost the Bears a playoff berth
this season.
Angelo was not the only one to leave the Bears, however, with offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, also resigning and quarterbacks' coach, Shane Day, fired from his job, Bears will have a thorough change in its coaching department.
The Bears, by week 11, were 7-3 and likely to reach the wildcard round of the playoffs, but an injury to quarterback, Jay Cutler, and running back, Matt Forte, devastated the offence.
Caleb Hanie, who replaced Cutler at the quarterback position, failed to deliver any consistent performances and the Bears went on to lose five games in a row, putting them out of the running for a playoff round berth.
Bears have retained services of coach, Lovie Smith, and the new general manager will not be able to bring in his own choice for head coach for another year.
Smith has a make or break 2012 season and this year’s drafts will be crucial for both, the Bears to return back with the elite and for Smith to save his job.
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