Timeline: Lovie Smith’s tenure with the Bears

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NEW BEARS COACH LOVIE SMITH

Sept. 19 2004 — After losing Smith’s debut Lions 20-16 Soldier Field Bears intercept Brett Favre twice 21-10 victory over

Sept. 19, 2004 — After losing Smith’s debut to the Lions 20-16 at Soldier Field, the Bears intercept Brett Favre twice in a 21-10 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field. Favre had beaten the Bears 18 of 20 times coming into that game. | GETTY

SMITH

Dec. 4 2005 — Nathan Vasher returns an interceptiFavre 45 yards for touchdown clinch 19-7 victory over Packers Soldier Field

Dec. 4, 2005 — Nathan Vasher returns an interception of Favre 45 yards for a touchdown to clinch a 19-7 victory over the Packers at Soldier Field for the Bears’ sixth consecutive win to move to 9-3. The Bears would finish 11-5 to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

LOVIE SMITH

Lovie Smith, Jerome Boger, Brad Maynard

Oct. 29 2006 — Rex Grossman throws three touchdown passes first half as Bears take 41-0 halftime lead rout San

Oct. 29, 2006 — Rex Grossman throws three touchdown passes in the first half as the Bears take a 41-0 halftime lead and rout the San Francisco 49ers 41-10 to move to 6-0. They have outscored opponents 221-69. | Tom Cruze~ Sun-Times

January 2007 — With No. 1 seed NFC after 13-3 regular seasBears beSeattle Seahawks 27-24 overtime Soldier Field New Orleans

January, 2007 — With the No. 1 seed in the NFC after a 13-3 regular season, the Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in overtime at Soldier Field and the New Orleans Saints 39-14 at Soldier Field in the NFC Championship Game to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1985 season. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

Feb. 4 2007 — DevHester returns opening kickoff Super Bowl XLI for touchdown but Rex Grossman is intercepted fourth quarter

Feb. 4, 2007 — Devin Hester returns the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown, but Rex Grossman is intercepted in the fourth quarter and Kelvin Hayden returns it for a touchdown to all but seal the Bears’ 29-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

New York Giants v Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears v Houston Texans

Brian Urlacher

Jan. 23 2011 — After beating 7-9 Seattle Seahawks 35-24 Soldier Field divisional playoff game Bears lose Packers 21-14 NFC

Jan. 23, 2011 — After beating the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks 35-24 at Soldier Field in a divisional playoff game, the Bears lose to the Packers 21-14 in the NFC Championship Game. Jay Cutler was injured and missed the second half, but third-string quarterback Caleb Hanie nearly rallies the Bears to a tie in the final minutes. | Tom Cruze ~ Sun-Times

Nov. 20 2011 — Jay Cutler leads Bears their fifth consecutive victory 31-20 over Chargers Soldier Field. But he suffers

Nov. 20, 2011 — Jay Cutler leads the Bears to their fifth consecutive victory, 31-20 over the Chargers at Soldier Field. But he suffers a broken thumb trying to make a tackle on an interception and is out for the season. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

last game of season

Jay Cutler, Brian Urlacher

Clay Matthews

Brian Robison, Aaron Rodgers

Lovie Smith

Jan. 15, 2004 — Lovie Smith, defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, is hired as the Bears’ head coach. He replaced Dick Jauron, who was fired after a 7-9 season in 2003 — his fourth without a playoff berth in five seasons. Sept. 19, …