Bears single out Kromer from other coaches

Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, whose comments to an NFL Network reporter were the source of a story critical of quarterback Jay Cutler, also was fired Monday.

All but one of fired head coach Marc Trestman's other assistants still are under contract for next season, including defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. The exception is quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh, whose deal expires in March.

"The other coaches and the personnel folks, they've all been kept under contract," said team president and CEO Ted Phillips.

"We have indicated to all of those folks that in the event that the new head coach or general manager wants to interview them, we'd like to give them that opportunity.

"However, we're not going to stand in their way if they have another opportunity elsewhere. Then they will go through the proper protocol and those organizations that want to hire or interview one of our coaches or scouts, they will go through the proper protocol and notify me."

Cumulative effect:

There was no tipping point in the decision to fire coach Marc Trestman after two years and general manager Phil Emery after three, according to team chairman George McCaskey.

"It was an evaluation of the body of work," McCaskey said. "The fact of the matter is we just didn't win enough games. We finalized our decision (Sunday) night."

More like a guideline:

The Bears are expected to maintain the same chain of command that has been in place at Halas Hall with the coach reporting to the general manager, the GM to the team president (Ted Phillips) and Phillips reporting to chairman George McCaskey.

Usually the GM is hired first and he hires the coach, but the Bears aren't locked in to that process.

"The conventional timeline is to hire the general manager first," McCaskey said. "But (consultant) Ernie (Accorsi) has already advised us that if we see the right guy out there as a head coach, we need to be prepared to move quickly to get him."

Urgent but patient:

Team president and CEO Ted Phillips said the Bears already have received "numerous inquiries from a number of people," about their vacant head coach and GM positions.

The search already is underway, but team chairman George McCaskey said, "We do not have a timetable. We will act quickly if necessary to get the people we want, and we are prepared to wait if necessary to get the people we want."

Jim Harbaugh is not a candidate.