Bears Ownership 'Pissed Off,' Changing Leadership
By Chris Emma-
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Pure emotion came from Bears chairman George McCaskey on Monday afternoon when asked about his 91-year-old mother, Virginia, and how she handled the franchise's failure and a dysfunctional season. Tears dripped down as he choked up.
"She's pissed off," McCaskey said of his mother.
"We're fed up with mediocrity."
The Bears made the move Monday to fire coach Marc Trestman, general manager Phil Emery and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, bringing in a new brain trust for the football operation. Chicago capped off a season of high expectations with a 5-11 record, ending Trestman's two-year tenure with a 13-19 overall record.
McCaskey made the decision Sunday night to remove the coach and general manager of their duties. Longtime football executive Ernie Accorsi was hired as a consultant, and he will provide a football mind to help McCaskey and president Ted Phillips make the hiring of a new general manager.
"We feel it's time to move forward with new leadership to help us get there," McCaskey said.
Added Phillips: "If you lose confidence in the status quo, it's time to make a change."
Phillips will remain as the Bears' president, getting a second chance to help pick a coach and general manager. McCaskey admitted that everyone was evaluated, but there's trust in Phillips.
"Our family has complete faith in Ted," McCaskey said. "He has our support."
With the help of Accorsi, McCaskey and Phillips will work to make a big move. It's conventional, McCaskey said, to hire a general manager first, then allow his pick of a head coach, but the Bears won't stand pat if their desired coach is available.
Once a coach and general manager are in place, final decisions will be made to the Bears' roster, with the most notable actions coming to Jay Cutler and his big contract that has two more years of guaranteed money. Cutler's owed $15.5 million in 2015. He led the NFL in turnovers in 2014.
"Whoever the coach and GM are, they'll have the decisions to make," Phillips said.
This wasn't a full cleaning of the house. All Bears assistants remain under contract, with the exception of the fired Kromer and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh, whose deal is up. The new coach and general manager will have say in who stays on staff.
An eventful Black Monday at Halas Hall brought widespread change to the Bears organization, and it stemmed from a raging owner.
