Editing Chicago Bears (section)

===2013–2014: Marc Trestman years===
Then-[[Canadian Football League|CFL]] head coach and former NFL journeyman [[Marc Trestman]] was hired to succeed Smith after an exhaustive search that included at least 13 known candidates.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Biggs |first1=Brad |last2=Pompei |first2=Dan |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-bears-hire-marc-trestman-20130115,0,7826477.story |title=Marc Trestman chosen to be Bears' new coach |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116093830/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-bears-hire-marc-trestman-20130115%2C0%2C7826477.story |archive-date=January 16, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Isaacson|first=Melissa|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/8835945/phil-emery-wait-too-long-find-chicago-bears-coach|title=Emery can't wait too long|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=January 11, 2013|access-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114222110/http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/8835945/phil-emery-wait-too-long-find-chicago-bears-coach|archive-date=January 14, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 20, 2013, Brian Urlacher's 13-year tenure with the Bears ended when both sides failed to agree on a contract.<ref>{{cite web|last=McIntyre|first=Brian|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/chicago-bears-announce-brian-urlacher-not-back-2013-224525683--nfl.html|title=Chicago Bears announce that Brian Urlacher will not be back in 2013|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|date=March 20, 2013|access-date=March 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323044743/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/chicago-bears-announce-brian-urlacher-not-back-2013-224525683--nfl.html|archive-date=March 23, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The Trestman era began on September 8 with a 24–21 win over the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], making Trestman the fourth head coach in Bears history to win in his coaching debut, after George Halas (1920), Neill Armstrong (1978) and Dick Jauron (1999).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/09/08/5403/index.html|title=Cutler, Marshall lead Bears over Bengals 24–21|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=September 8, 2013|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912195347/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/09/08/5403/index.html|archive-date=September 12, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Bears ended the 2013 season 8–8, barely missing the playoffs after losing in the final week of the season to the Packers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Lindsay H.|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/12/29/nfl-week-17-packers-bears-aaron-rodgers-jay-cutler/4243675/|title=Aaron Rodgers leads Packers past Bears, into playoffs|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=December 29, 2013|access-date=August 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018141934/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/12/29/nfl-week-17-packers-bears-aaron-rodgers-jay-cutler/4243675/|archive-date=October 18, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite having a second-ranked offense that set numerous franchise records,<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-named-to-PFF-All-Rookie-Team/f1d360be-db5b-4d85-b8b8-ded4a3ac6af0|title=Long named to PFF All-Rookie Team|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=January 8, 2014|access-date=January 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109014955/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Long-named-to-PFF-All-Rookie-Team/f1d360be-db5b-4d85-b8b8-ded4a3ac6af0|archive-date=January 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> the defense greatly worsened as it set franchise worsts in categories like yards allowed (6,313).<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Improving-defense-a-top-priority/48521138-22fd-4526-a404-1960071e0fa6|title=Improving defense a top priority|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=January 4, 2014|access-date=January 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106042350/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Improving-defense-a-top-priority/48521138-22fd-4526-a404-1960071e0fa6|archive-date=January 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The following season was a disaster for the Bears, with the offense regressing to finish outside the top 20 in scoring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/index.htm#all_team_scoring|title=2014 NFL Standings & Team Stats – Scoring Offense|work=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|access-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093910/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/index.htm#all_team_scoring|archive-date=August 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The team also allowed 50-point games in two straight weeks against the Patriots and Packers, including a franchise-high 42 points and NFL-record six touchdowns allowed in the first half against the latter,<ref>{{cite news|last=Armas|first=Genaro C.|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/10/aaron-rodgers-packers-bears-record-half_n_6130674.html|title=Aaron Rodgers Throws 6 TD Passes In 1st Half As Packers Crush Bears 55-14|newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=November 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112143148/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/10/aaron-rodgers-packers-bears-record-half_n_6130674.html|archive-date=November 12, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Breech|first=Josh|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24793799/bears-line-up-to-punt-packers-kick-ball-instead|title=Bears line up to punt, Packers kick ball instead|publisher=[[CBSSports.com]]|date=November 9, 2014|access-date=November 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110072941/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24793799/bears-line-up-to-punt-packers-kick-ball-instead|archive-date=November 10, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> to become the first team since the [[1923 Rochester Jeffersons season|1923 Rochester Jeffersons]] to allow at least 50 points in consecutive games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Neveau|first=James|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Packers-Bears-Sunday-Night-Lambeau-Field-Cutler-Rodgers-282090151.html|title=Packers Bludgeon Bears 55-14 in Embarrassing Rout|publisher=[[WMAQ-TV]]|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111054025/http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Packers-Bears-Sunday-Night-Lambeau-Field-Cutler-Rodgers-282090151.html|archive-date=November 11, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bears ended the year 5–11 and last in the NFC North.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/2013.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127092953/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/2013.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Trestman and Emery were fired after the season ended.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chicago-bears-fire-marc-trestman-0ap3000000451258|title=Chicago Bears fire Marc Trestman|publisher=[[National Football League]]|date=December 29, 2014|access-date=December 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229171803/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000451258/article/chicago-bears-fire-marc-trestman|archive-date=December 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>