Report: Lovie Smith to sit out 2013, aim for 2014 head-coaching job
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| Lovie Smith reportedly interviewed for three head-coaching jobs. With no jobs remaining, he'll sit 2013 out. (US Presswire) |
Former Bears coach Lovie Smith plans to sit out the 2013 season and hopes to return as a head coach in 2014, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted.
Smith reportedly interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Eagles, Bills and Chargers after being fired Dec. 31 by Chicago. There are no head-coaching jobs left, but the Eagles and Saints are still looking for defensive coordinators.
The Bears owe Smith $5 million for the 2013 season, the last year of his contract. Apparently Smith prefers that to taking an assistant's job.
| The home of the Super Bowl | |||
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In nine seasons under Smith, the Bears went 81-63 in the regular season and 3-3 in the playoffs with a Super Bowl trip following the 2006 season. But Chicago missed the playoffs in five of his final six years, including this season when the Bears floundered after a 7-1 start.
Smith coordinated the Rams' defense when St. Louis made the Super Bowl following the 2001 season. In Chicago, seven of his nine teams finished in the top 10 in takeaways.
General Manager Phil Emery, explaining Smith's firing, noted the Bears produced only one top-15 offense in Smith's tenure.
Chicago moved to rejuvenate the offense by naming the Montreal Alouettes' Marc Trestman as head coach. Trestman, who'd been out of the NFL eight years, is considered a quarterback guru. For what it's worth, Jay Cutler applauded his hiring.
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