Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz left with mutual decision - NFL News
Former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz on Wednesday in an interview with the Chicago Tribune reiterated that he left the Bears with mutual understanding with the franchise.
Mike Martz was brought to the Bears by Coach Lovie Smith in 2010 but this year rumours had been rife that he will not be returning for another season as the offensive coordinator was linked with several college teams for a head coach role.
Martz believes that the time was right to say goodbye to the franchise and with the management also looking to hire someone else it was a win-win situation for all concerned.
"I thank (coach) Lovie (Smith) for the opportunity," Martz told the newspaper. "There is nothing in our relationship that changed. It was just time for me to move on. We had two good years here."
Martz was relieved of his duties on Tuesday and the decision was announced in a press conference by Bears President Ted Phillips. Phillips said that Coach Lovie Smith made the decision to let Martz leave and both felt that the time was right to move in a
new direction.
During the same press conference the Bears also announced the removal of General Manager Jerry Angelo and quarterbacks Coach Shane Day.
Mike Martz had his best season with the Chicago Bears this year with the offense ranking the highest in the National Football League statistics under his tenure. Things however, did not turnout as planned. The Bears were in good form and cruising to the
playoffs but injuries to crucial players in offense turned the Bears season upside down leaving them to finish with an 8-8 record.
The Bears lost quarterback Jay Cutler after week 11 who was replaced by Caleb Hanie. Injuries also took out running back Matt Forte from the Bears offense. The Bears without their two premier offensive players lost five games in a row, losing out on the
chance to reach the post season.
"It's unfortunate things happened the way they did this year, We were rolling there when Cutler got hurt. He was really doing well, and the entire team was.”
"At that point, I think we were the most complete team in the league. Offensively, we finally came up to what we needed to be. We had some guys thrown in the offensive line who were playing well. Then it happened. Things happen."
The Bears have begun the search for a new offensive coordinator but the final decision on who is brought in is with Coach Lovie Smith.
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