Cleaning House At Halas Hall: Offensive Coordinator Martz Resigns

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 3, 2012 7:40PM

More changes are afoot with the Bears in the wake of Jerry Angelo's firing as General Manager. According to Tribune reporter Dan Pompei, who first tweeted the news, offensive coordinator Mike Martz has resigned from the team over what Pompei calls "philosophical differences."

Martz was brought aboard the increasingly dysfunctional Bears ship two years ago after the offense ranked 23rd in total offense and 19th in scoring offense. In Martz's two seasons in Chicago, the team ranked 30th and 23rd in total offense, and 21st and 17th in scoring offense. Martz's pass-happy offensive playbook put a major strain on an offensive line that wasn't designed to provide the long pass protection and seven-step drops that were trademarks necessary of his offensive schemes in St. Louis.

It's unknown at this time whether Martz's philosophical differences were with head coach Lovie Smith or with people in the Bears personnel department of the future of the Bears offense. Smith didn't seem to give Martz a vote of confidence last week, and Martz has been rumored to be seeking head coaching opportunities with the Jacksonville Jaguars and at Arizona State. Martz's contract expires at the end of the 201 season and it was only a few days ago, Martz expressed his desire to return to the Bears for the 2012 season. Quarterbacks coach Shane Day is following Martz out the door at Halas Hall. Suddenly this 4 p.m. press conference is becoming even more of a must-listen than we anticipated.