Mike Martz calls it a day at 60, 14 days after resigning from OC role with Chicago Bears - NFL News
14 days after being fired from the offensive coordinator role with the Chicago Bears, Mike Martz has now decided, according to latest reports, to call it a day and retire from coaching at the age of 60.
“It’s time”, Martz told the Chicago Sun-Times.
The offensive coordinator was fired after he and head coach, Lovie Smith, made a mutually consented decision to part ways since they could not agree on the tactics the Bears would adapt in the new season.
Bears’ president, Ted Phillips, announced the decision on January 3, 2012, to the press as he promoted offensive line coach, Mike Tice, to the role of coordinator.
Speculation about Martz’s commitment to the Bears and a new contract were rife throughout the 2011 regular season, with links to many college roles but Martz and Lovie Smith refuted all the rumours and Smith even stated that Martz will get a new contract,
just a few months earlier.
However, it did not turn out that way and the situation came to a head as the Bears failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Martz was removed from the position and was followed out from the franchise by general manager, Jerry Angelo, and quarterbacks' coach, Shane Day.
Martz had remained with the Chicago Bears for two seasons after joining in 2010 and led the Bears' offence to the National Football Conference (NFC)-North Divisional title and a NFC championship game, which they eventually lost to the Green Bay Packers,
who went on to win the Super Bowl.
The 2011 season began with great expectations from Martz and for a period, the offence delivered as quarterbacks, Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, were in great form with the Bears, going 7-3 and in line for a wildcard playoff berth.
Injuries however, seemed to undo all the good work.
Jay Cutler injured his thumb against the San Diego Chargers in week 11 and two weeks later, Matt Forte followed him to the treatment table with a knee injury.
With both players counted out for the rest of the season, Caleb Hanie was given the duties as QB.
Hanie was erratic at best, passing for just three touchdowns and throwing nine interceptions with the Bears, losing all four games he started.
The Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers in week 16 of the regular season, ending all hopes of reaching the playoffs.
The Bears' offence in 2011 ranked 24th overall and Martz’s tactics were roundly criticised by fans and analysts for being too complex.
Martz had an illustrious career being the offensive coordinator for St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers.
Martz also had a head coaching role with the Rams from 2000-2005 and helped the franchise to a Super Bowl win in 1999 and a second final in 2001 which they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
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