LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) – The Chicago Bears have fired coach Lovie Smith after the team missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.
 
     Smith was informed of the decision by general manager Phil Emery on Monday, a day after the Bears beat Detroit to finish 10-6 but still missed out on a playoff spot.
 
     Smith led the Bears to a Super Bowl, but also saw his team collapse in the second half of the past two seasons. Hired in 2004, Smith led the Bears to three division titles, two NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance in his nine seasons. His record is 81-63.
 
     The Bears scheduled a news conference Tuesday to discuss the move.

 

PHILADELPHIA (AP Dec 31, 2012) – Andy Reid has been fired after 14 seasons coaching the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

The Eagles made the announcement Monday. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie says, “it is time for the Eagles to move in a new direction.”

 

Reid is due to make $6 million in 2013 in the final year of his contract. He is the franchise leader in wins (140) and winning percentage (.578) and led the Eagles to six division titles and five NFC championship games. He led them to the Super Bowl in 2004.

 

Lurie put Reid on notice after last season’s 8-8 record. The Eagles slumped to 4-12 this season forcing Lurie to make the move.

 

Lurie calls Reid, “someone I respect greatly and will remain friends with for many years to come.”

 

Reid inherited a 3-13 team in 1999, drafted Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 overall pick in that year’s draft, and quickly turned the franchise into a title contender.

　

BEREA, Ohio (AP) – A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Browns have fired coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert.

 

Shurmur and Heckert were informed Monday at the team’s facility, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced the moves. The dismissals come one day after the Browns lost their finale 24-10 in Pittsburgh, completing a 5-11 season.

 

Shurmur went 9-23 in two seasons with the Browns, who have undergone almost constant change since their return to the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1999. Heckert infused Cleveland’s roster with talent during three years with the team.

 

Owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner will try to turn around a franchise that has lost at least 11 games the past five seasons.

 

 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Chan Gailey has been fired by the Buffalo Bills after three losing seasons.
 
     The announcement was made Monday, a day after the Bills closed out another disappointing season with a 28-9 win over the New York Jets.
 
     Buffalo finished 6-10, and Gailey leaves with a 16-32 record in his three seasons. There was no immediate word on the status of general manager Buddy Nix.
 
     In a hopeful season after signing star defensive end Mario Williams, the Bills reverted to their ways of the past, failing to make the playoffs for a 13th straight year, the NFL’s longest active drought.

 

  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs have fired coach Romeo Crennel after a 2-14 season marked by blowout losses, fan rebellion and a murder-suicide involving one of his players.
 
     No decision has been made about the future of general manager Scott Pioli.
 
     Crennel was fired Monday after one full season as coach, and one day after Kansas City lost 38-3 to the Denver Broncos to match the fewest wins in franchise history.
 
     The Chiefs’ only victories came against New Orleans and Carolina, the latter coming one day after linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend to death and then drove to the team’s practice facility and turned the gun on himself as Crennel and Pioli looked on.
 
     Crennel’s career record is 28-55 in five-plus seasons as a head coach.