A day after the Chicago Bears fired head coach Lovie Smith, general manager Phil Emery explained his decision to the media at Halas Hall.
As soon as the news conference was over, Emery was expected to kick the search for Smith’s replacement into high gear.
"It was a tough day in many ways," Emery said of Smith's firing Monday. "It was a tough decision. Lovie had a good run here with good, competitive teams."
Emery said the firing wasn't totally decided until Monday morning when he sat down and told Smith directly. He said missing the playoffs for the fifth time in six years and the team's struggles on offense were the key factors in his decision.
"The end result was we didn't have enough consistecy," Emery said. "We need to consistently be in the playoffs competing for championships.
"We haven't had the balance, we have not had consistency on the offensive side of the ball. We have gone through a number of coordinators."
Emery said he discussed his decision with team chairman George McCaskey and president Ted Phillips but was given the authority to make the call.
Emery said he will handle the initial coaching interviews by himself and that McCaskey and Phillips will be involved on finalists' interviews. Emery said he would be looking at all levels -- former head coaches, current coordinators, college coaches -- for potential candidates. He said being an NFL head coach was a "24/7 job."
"I want somebody with high energy," Emery said. "Someone who pulls together everyone in the building."
Emery said working well with the media and presenting a good public image also were important factors.
"I want this person to stand up and represent us well," he said.
Emery said he would conduct the search "with a sense of urgency," but "we have to be thorough."
He said "the (ongoing) playoffs are a consideration ... there may be a candidate who is in the playoffs and we may have to wait on that."
Emery said money was not a consideration in firing Smith with a year left on his deal and won't be in deciding on candidates, declining to rule out big-name hires.
"We want to win now," Emery said. "We want that championship now."
Emery said he wants an adaptable coach who can find ways to win with the players on hand, speaking both of quarterback Jay Cutler and also about the defense in terms of using a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme.
"It's real important to find the person to make things fit with the players we have," Emery said.
Emery said he considered Cutler a "franchise quarterback" that the team needs to "build around," but as to whether he is the long-term solution, he said, "That answer is going to come as we move forward with the new head coach."
"Jay has won a lot of games," Emery said. "We need to build around him."
Bears general manager: 'We need to consistently be in the playoffs'
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Bears general manager: 'We need to consistently be in the playoffs'
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Bears general manager: 'We need to consistently be in the playoffs'
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