Former Bears star Matt Forte wonders aloud why Matt Nagy is still employed

Former Bears running back Matt Forte is wondering why Chicago hasn’t fired coach Matt Nagy after it dismissed Lovie Smith following a 10-win season in 2012.

Forte played under Smith for his first five NFL seasons, racking up a staggering 7,652 all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns. The Bears finished below .500 just once during that span. Nagy, meanwhile, fell to 5-7 this season with Sunday’s 34-30 loss to the Lions. His squad went 12-4 in 2018 and 8-8 last year.

“Lovie Smith won 10 games and got fired … but that’s none of my business,” Forte wrote on Twitter.

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Like Smith did more over a decade ago, Nagy has started his tenure with shaky quarterback play. Smith was initially asked to make the most of a roster with Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman under center; Nagy is navigating a difficult era of Mitch Trubisky slinging passes. Both coaches received boosts from incredible defensive playmakers. Smith relied upon the likes of Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman; Nagy has built his pass rush around three-time All-Pro Khalil Mack.

Nagy’s time in Chicago will be influenced by whether his front office manages to bring in a reliable passer in the same vein as its 2009 Jay Cutler acquisition. If aid at quarterback doesn’t arrive, success seems far-fetched. If help does come and Nagy still underperforms, there can be no excuses.

Regardless, Forte isn’t buying the contrasting treatment of Smith and Nagy. There are surely fans who feel the same way as the Bears slump out of the playoff picture.

Chicago is now tied for last place with Detroit in the NFC North.