A day after the Chicago Bears fired head coach Lovie Smith, general manager Phil Emery explained his decision to the media at Halas Hall.
"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 consistency," Emery said. "That part -- not getting into the playoffs on a consistent basis, being able to be meet our organizational goal to be in the hunt to win championshps -- I made the change moving forward. ... We need to consistently be in the playoffs competing for championships."
Emery said he spent his first year in his role as GM evaluating the entire operation. Of the offense, he said, "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 that has high energy," Emery said. "Somebody that pulls people together in the building. ... Upbeat and positive. Everybody has a different personality ... but those qualities are paramount."
Emery said working well with the media and presenting a good public image also were important factors.
"I want somebody who's good on their feet," he said. "I think working with the media -- not only in Chicago but in a national sense -- is very important. I want this person to stand up and represent us well.
"Wins and losses weigh heavily week to week. There needs to be a level of consistency in this individual and how he presents himself. Not only when we're up but when we're down, and how we're going to rebound from being down."
Emery said the search for Smith’s replacement into high gear.
"We do have candidates lined up to talk to this week, we have candidates lined up for the following week," he said. "It's an ongoing process and we are working through a wide variety of people. No one has been excluded. It's an open process. I want to talk to these individuals, listen to them, listen to their thoughts about how they can lead the Chicago Bears toward excellence."
Emery said he would conduct the search "with a sense of urgency," but "it's important that we be very thorough to get the absolute right person."
He said "the (ongoing) playoffs are a consideration ... There may be a candidate who is in the playoffs that may be unavailable to us that we might have to wait out."
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."
Regarding the offense, Emery said, "We need to get better in the midfield area at making plays. (Tight end) Kellen (Davis) had a rough year. ... He has shown ability, but for whatever reason hasn't been consistent."
Emery said receiver Earl Bennett "showed us his talent in the last game (at Detroit)," but noted that the team needed to get more consistency and said running back Matt Forte was under-utilized in the passing game.
That would seem to point to offensive coordinator Mike Tice, but Emery said, "I'm not looking to blame anybody."
Emery said he would be open to a coach who wanted to call his own offensive plays if that candidate convinced him that was the best way to go.
Emery said some of the assistant coaches could be retained.
Emery wouldn't get into Brian Urlacher's future with the team but acknowledged that his "leadership and knowledge" would be hard to replace.
"Coming back from his (knee) injury there was a time when he looked a little rusty," Emery said. "There was a time he looked better. .... Did he make progress? Yes, he did."
Emery pointed to the offensive line as a major problem area: "We've got to get better."
Emery said that when he became GM, he recognized that the Bears needed an upgrade at wide receiver, pass rusher and offensive line in particular. The trade acquisition of Brandon Marshall, the drafting of defensive end Shea McClellin receiver Alshon Jeffery and the signing of tackle Jonathan Scott were meant to address those concerns. He noted that Scott did not allow a sack all season.
Emery conceded that firing Smith was not popular with Bears players.
"There is always going to be disagreements," he said. "I have had players come by and talk to me."
Emery already got started on his search Monday, setting up interviews with Atlanta Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan. Those interviews are scheduled for this week.
Many more interviews are expected to follow, as Emery is likely to have an expansive search process that encompasses many kinds of candidates.
Smith was fired after a 10-6 season. The Bears missed the playoffs, as they had in five of the previous six years. His inability to fix the offense was an issue throughout his nine seasons in Chicago.
But Smith also will be remembered for his excellent defenses that came up with takeaways better than any team in the NFL throughout his tenure.
While the Bears are looking for Smith’s replacement, Smith is expected to be a candidate for other NFL head-coaching jobs. ESPN’s John Clayton reported Smith has been contacted by four teams, and Smith is expected to be a candidate for the Cardinals and Bills jobs.
dpompei@tribune.com
Twitter@danpompei
Bears general manager: 'We need to consistently be in the playoffs'
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