Aaron Kromer Fired, While Mel Tucker Still Under Contract -- For Now

By Dan Durkin-

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Fans expecting a complete purge of the Bears' coaching staff didn't get their wish.

During their visit with the media Monday afternoon, Bears chairman George McCaskey and team president Ted Phillips announced that the the sweeping changes at Halas Hall stopped with offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer. General manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman were fired Monday morning.

"Aaron Kromer's contract was terminated today," Phillips said. "George and I met with Aaron and told him that."

Phillips clarified that Kromer wasn't fired for cause. Kromer had come under fire earlier in December when he was revealed to be the source of a national report that criticized Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Kromer issued a tearful apology to his team but wasn't let go despite the breach of trust.

As far as the remaining coaches and scouts under contract, all will remain, per Phillips.

"All the other coaches we met with, and the personnel folks, they've all been kept under contract," Phillips said. "I believe the only individual who doesn't have a contract for next year is (quarterbacks coach) Matt Cavanaugh.

"We have indicated to all of those folks that in the event that the new head coach or general manager wants to interview them, we'd like to give them that opportunity.

"However, we're not going to stand in their way if they have another opportunity elsewhere, then they will go through the proper protocol and those organizations that want to hire or interview one of our coaches or scouts, they will go through the proper protocol and notify me."

This means that to the chagrin of fans -- at least for now -- Mel Tucker is still employed as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears.

His stint may not last much longer, though.

The Bears assistants under contract were told to start looking for new work, a source told 670 The Score's Dan Bernstein.

In:
• Ted Phillips