LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears fired general manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman on Monday after a 5-11 season.
"[Bears president and CEO] Ted [Phillips] and I came to the conclusion that continuing on our present course would not result in our ultimate goal, which is to win championships," Bears chairman George McCaskey said. "All our decisions revolve around that goal, and we feel that it's time to move forward with new leadership to help us get there."
McCaskey paused for approximately 10 seconds when asked what 91-year-old franchise matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey thought of what's happened with the Bears.
"She's been very supportive. She agrees with the decisions that we made. She's pissed off," McCaskey said. "I can't think of a 91-year-old woman that that description would apply to. But in this case, I can't think of a more accurate description.
"She's been on this Earth for eight of the Bears' nine championships, and she wants more. She feels that it's been too long since the last one, and that dissatisfaction is shared by her children, her grandchildren and her-great grandchildren. She's fed up with mediocrity. She feels that she and Bears fans everywhere deserve better."
The Bears brass said they've hired Ernie Accorsi as a consultant to help in the search for a new general manager and coach.
In a statement, Trestman thanked the Bears organization for giving him the chance to be the team's coach.
"I also want to thank all the coaches and players who gave us everything we asked over the past two years," he said in the statement. "I have tremendous respect for this organization. Chicago is a special city with great fans. I appreciate the warm support my family and I received."
Trestman spoke to the team Monday morning before departing the team facility for the final time.
"It was the same Marc Trestman meeting we always have," Bears tight end Martellus Bennett said. "He just said said thank you and that he appreciated the guys. It wasn't anything different than he usually does when he comes in. He has his notes written down, and he's meticulous about what he says. He's very good with the words he chooses to use.
"For Coach [Trestman] I just think it's a dream deferred. I think he's a really good coach, an excellent guy, and I think he will have another chance to coach in this league."
Emery met with reporters at Halas Hall on Monday, but read from a prepared statement, and took no questions.
"This job was the opportunity of a lifetime. My only regret is we didn't win enough games for that opportunity to continue," he said in part of his statement.
"Thank you to all the Bears fans that have reached out to me the last three years, who have stopped to say hello, have extended their hand in friendship and that I've had the opportunity to have a conversation with. Your kindness does a lot more for the soul than people can imagine. To borrow a lyric or a line from Carrie Newcomer: 'We stand breathless on the clean edge of change.' So it's time to change and move forward. Go Bears. Thanks for your time."
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall expressed his disappointment at the changes via his Twitter account. READ MORE
