Former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith will not be returning to the University of Illinois to coach the Fighting Illini. Smith had a meeting with his football team Sunday morning which ended up being an era in Illinois.
Lovie Smith not returning as Illinois’ coach next season, source told @Stadium
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 13, 2020
In a COVID-19 season, the Illini finished the 2020 season with a 2-5 record. During Smith’s tenure, Illinois went 17-39 overall and 10-33 in the Big Ten conference. Illinois’ best finish was in 2019 when they finished 6-7 (4-5) and fourth in the Big Ten West standings, then earned a bid to the Redbox Bowl where they lost 35-20 to the Cal Golden Bears.
The Chicago Bears hired Smith in 2004 after the dismissal of Dick Jauron. Smith had three goals in mind for the Bears: beat the Green Bay Packers, win the NFC North and win a Super Bowl. Throughout his tenure with the Bears, Smith was able to deliver on two of those goals but had an appearance in Super Bowl XLI.
Smith was able to beat the Packers seven times in his nine-season career with the Bears, then secured three NFC North titles. The Bears came close to a second Super Bowl appearance in Smith’s tenure but the Packers bested the Bears in the 2010 NFC Championship Game.
After Smith was fired in 2012, where the Bears started 7-1 but missed the playoffs with a 10-6 record, he was interviewed by the Houston Texans for the head coaching job. However, Smith had interviews with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions. Smith ended up taking the Buccaneers head coaching job and lasted two seasons with an 8-24 record.
The Bears have growing rumors that they could be moving on from GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy after another disappointing season. Perhaps a reunion could be a possibility with Smith if the Bears were to head down that direction.
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