The 2009 season was the Chicago Bears' 90th season in the National Football League, and the sixth under head coach Lovie Smith. The Bears had looked to improve upon their 9–7 record from 2008 and return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2006 season, but failed to do so for the third consecutive season. The team finished 7–9, and third in the NFC North. This season was Lovie Smith's sixth season as the team's head coach. The Bears played all their home games at Soldier Field.
Offseason
Coaching changes The Bears hired former Detroit Lions head coach, Rod Marinelli, to be their defensive line and assistant head coach. Bob Babich became the linebackers coach again after Lloyd Lee was fired. However, Babich even though he is still the Defensive Coordinator was stripped of his play calling duties in favor of Head Coach Lovie Smith. Jon Hoke was hired as defensive backs coach.
Free agents Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2009 team S Mike Brown UFA June 24, 2009 Kansas City Chiefs QB Rex Grossman UFA June 12, 2009 Houston Texans CB Marcus Hamilton ERFA March 12, 2009 Chicago Bears RB Kevin Jones UFA March 6, 2009 Chicago Bears WR Brandon Lloyd UFA June 15, 2009Denver Broncos LB Darrell McClover UFA S Brandon McGowan UFA May 5, 2009 New England Patriots OT Fred Miller UFA LB Nick Roach ERFA March 16, 2009 Chicago Bears OT John St. Clair UFA March 17, 2009 Cleveland Browns S Cameron Worrell UFA RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
Additions
On December 30, 2008 the Bears signed DE Joe Clermond, LB Marcus Riley, WR Rudy Burgess, OT Cody Balogh, WR John Broussard, OG Tyler Reed, and TE Fontel Mines On February 3, 2009 the Bears signed QB Brett Basanez On February 27, 2009 just hours into free agency, the Bears agreed to a four-year contract with offensive lineman Frank Omiyale On March 11, 2009 the Bears signed unrestricted free agent free safety Josh Bullocks to a one-year contract. He previously played for the New Orleans Saints. On March 21, 2009 it was announced the Bears had signed safety Glenn Earl to a one-year contract. On March 25, 2009 the Bears agreed to terms with free agent tackle Kevin Shaffer On April 2, the Bears received Jay Cutler through a trade with the Denver Broncos. On April 2, the Bears signed Orlando Pace to a three-year deal. On May 11, the Bears signed tight end Michael Gaines to a one-year contract. On May 29, the Bears signed Pisa Tinoisamoa to a one-year contract. On September 1, the Bears signed Rod Hood who played in 2008 for the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals On October 19, defensive end Gaines Adams was traded to the Bears for a 2nd round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft.
Departures Marty Booker (released) Gilbert Gardner (released) Marcus Riley (waived) Mike Brown (released) John Tait (retired) Terrence Metcalf (released) Kyle Orton (traded) Brandon Lloyd (released)
2009 NFL draft
Picks #99, #246 and #251 are compensatory draft picks. The Bears received picks #68 and #105 after a trade with Seattle for the Bears 2nd round pick at #49.
Draft pick trades In 2008, Tampa Bay traded its sixth-round selection to Chicago for quarterback Brian Griese. In 2008, the Bears traded their seventh seventh-round selection to Tampa Bay for guard Dan Buenning. In 2009, the Bears traded their 2009 first round pick (18th overall), their 2009 third round pick (84th overall), their 2010 first round pick and quarterback Kyle Orton for quarterback Jay Cutler and a 2009 fifth round pick (140th overall) from Denver originally belonging to Seattle.
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Johan Asiata Guard UNLV Dennis Conley Guard Hampton Dahna Deleston Safety Connecticut Kevin Malast Linebacker Rutgers Eric Peterman Wide receiver Northwestern Mike Rivera Linebacker Kansas Will Ta'ufo’ou Fullback California Woodny Turenne Cornerback Louisville
Rosters
Opening training camp roster
Chicago Bears 2009 opening training camp roster Quarterbacks Brett Basanez Jay Cutler Caleb Hanie
Running backs Jason Davis FB Matt Forté Kevin Jones Jason McKie FB Adrian Peterson Will Ta'ufo'ou FB Garrett Wolfe
Wide receivers Devin Aromashodu Earl Bennett John Broussard Rashied Davis Devin Hester Juaquin Iglesias Derek Kinder Johnny Knox Eric Peterman Brandon Rideau
Tight ends Desmond Clark Kellen Davis Michael Gaines Fontel Mines Greg Olsen Offensive linemen Johan Asiata G Cody Balogh T Josh Beekman G/C Dan Buenning G Dennis Conley G Roberto Garza G/C Olin Kreutz C Lance Louis G Frank Omiyale T Orlando Pace T Tyler Reed G Kevin Shaffer T Chris Williams T
Defensive linemen Anthony Adams DT Mark Anderson DE Ervin Baldwin DE Alex Brown DE Joe Clermond DE Dusty Dvoracek DT Jarron Gilbert DT Tommie Harris DT Marcus Harrison DT Israel Idonije DT Henry Melton DE Adewale Ogunleye DE Matt Toeaina DT Linebackers Lance Briggs OLB Marcus Freeman OLB Hunter Hillenmeyer OLB Joey LaRocque OLB Kevin Malast OLB Mike Rivera ILB Nick Roach OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa OLB Brian Urlacher ILB Jamar Williams OLB
Defensive backs Al Afalava S Zackary Bowman CB Josh Bullocks SS Rudy Burgess CB Dahna Deleston S Corey Graham FS Marcus Hamilton CB Danieal Manning FS Trumaine McBride CB D. J. Moore CB Kevin Payne SS Craig Steltz FS Charles Tillman CB Woodny Turenne CB Nathan Vasher CB
Special teams Robbie Gould K Patrick Mannelly LS Brad Maynard P Reserve lists Currently vacant
79 Active, 0 Inactive
Week 1 roster Chicago Bears 2009 week 1 roster Quarterbacks Jay Cutler Caleb Hanie
Running backs Matt Forté Jason McKie FB Adrian Peterson Garrett Wolfe
Wide receivers Devin Aromashodu Earl Bennett Rashied Davis Devin Hester PR Juaquin Iglesias Johnny Knox
Tight ends Desmond Clark Kellen Davis Michael Gaines Greg Olsen Offensive linemen Josh Beekman G/C Roberto Garza G/C Olin Kreutz C Lance Louis T/G Frank Omiyale G/T Orlando Pace T Kevin Shaffer T Chris Williams T
Defensive linemen Anthony Adams DT Mark Anderson DE Alex Brown DE Jarron Gilbert DT Tommie Harris DT Marcus Harrison DT Israel Idonije DT Adewale Ogunleye DE Matt Toeaina DT Linebackers Lance Briggs OLB Hunter Hillenmeyer ILB Nick Roach OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa OLB Brian Urlacher ILB Jamar Williams OLB
Defensive backs Al Afalava SS Zackary Bowman CB Josh Bullocks FS Corey Graham CB Danieal Manning FS/KR Trumaine McBride CB D. J. Moore CB Kevin Payne SS Craig Steltz FS Charles Tillman CB Nathan Vasher CB
Special teams Robbie Gould K Patrick Mannelly LS Brad Maynard P Reserve lists Dusty Dvoracek DT (IR) Kevin Jones RB (IR) Henry Melton DE (IR) Fontel Mines TE (IR) Tyler Reed G (IR)
Practice Squad Johan Asiata G Ervin Baldwin DE Brett Basanez QB Joe Clermond DE James Marten OT Donovan Raiola C Will Ta'ufo'ou FB Woodny Turenne CB
53 Active, 5 Inactive, 8 PS
Final roster
Staff Chicago Bears 2009 staff Front office Secretary of the board of directors – Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman – Michael McCaskey President/CEO – Ted Phillips Vice president – Tim McCaskey general manager – Jerry Angelo Senior director of football administration/general counsel – Cliff Stein Senior director of pro personnel – Bobby DePaul Director of college scouting – Greg Gabriel Assistant director of pro personnel – Kevin Turks
Head coaches Head coach – Lovie Smith Assistant head coach/defensive line – Rod Marinelli
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Ron Turner Quarterbacks – Pep Hamilton Running backs – Tim Spencer Wide receivers – Darryl Drake Tight ends – Rob Boras Offensive line – Harry Hiestand Offensive assistant/assistant offensive line – Luke Butkus Offensive assistant/assistant wide receivers – Charles London Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Bob Babich Defensive backs – Jon Hoke Assistant Defensive Backs (Safeties) – Gill Byrd Defensive assistant/assistant defensive line – Eric Washington
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Dave Toub Assistant special teams – Chris Tabor
Strength and conditioning Director of physical development – Rusty Jones Strength and conditioning – Jim Arthur
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1at Buffalo Bills L 20–27 0–1 Ralph Wilson StadiumRecap 2New York GiantsW 17–3 1–1Soldier FieldRecap 3 at Denver Broncos W 27–17 2–1 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 4 Cleveland Browns W 26–23 3–1Soldier Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 13 at Green Bay Packers L 15–21 0–1 Lambeau Field Recap 2 September 20 Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–14 1–1 Soldier Field Recap 3 September 27 at Seattle Seahawks W 25–19 2–1 Qwest Field Recap 4 October 4 Detroit Lions W 48–24 3–1 Soldier Field Recap 5 Bye 6 October 18 at Atlanta Falcons L 14–213–2 Georgia Dome Recap 7 October 25 at Cincinnati BengalsL 10–453–3 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 8 November 1 Cleveland BrownsW 30–64–3 Soldier Field Recap 9 November 8 Arizona CardinalsL 21–414–4 Soldier Field Recap 10 at San Francisco 49ersL 6–104–5 Candlestick ParkRecap 11 November 22 Philadelphia EaglesL 20–244–6 Soldier Field Recap 12 November 29 at Minnesota VikingsL 10–364–7 Metrodome Recap 13 December 6 St. Louis RamsW 17–95–7 Soldier Field Recap 14 December 13 Green Bay Packers L 14–215–8 Soldier Field Recap 15 December 20 at Baltimore Ravens L 7–31 5–9 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 16 Minnesota Vikings W 36–30 (OT) 6–9 Soldier Field Recap 17 January 3 at Detroit Lions W 37–23 7–9 Ford Field Recap
Standings
Regular season
Week 1
The Bears began their season at Lambeau Field for a Sunday night battle with their hated rival, the Green Bay Packers. After a scoreless first quarter, Chicago trailed early as Packers kicker Mason Crosby got a 52-yard field goal. The Bears would respond with safety Danieal Manning sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers in his own endzone for a safety, but Green Bay would respond as running back Ryan Grant got a 1-yard touchdown run.
Chicago would take the lead in the third quarter as quarterback Jay Cutler completed a 36-yard pass to wide receiver Devin Hester, along with kicker Robbie Gould making a 47-yard field goal. Afterwards, the lead went back and forth in the fourth quarter. Crosby would kick a 39-yard field goal, while Gould nailed a 21-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Packers took the lead again as Rodgers completed a 50-yard touchdown pass and the following two-point conversion to wide receiver Greg Jennings. The Bears tried to rally, but an interception ended any hope of a comeback.
With the loss, Chicago began its season at 0–1.
Cutler's 4 interceptions were the most he had thrown in one game of his career, until week 10 against the 49ers.
Week 2
Hoping to rebound from their Sunday night loss to the Packers, the Bears played their Week 2 home opener against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers took an early lead in the first quarter as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed a 1-yard TD pass to tight end Matt Spaeth, but the Bears immediately fired back in the second quarter as quarterback Jay Cutler completed a 7-yard TD pass to tight end Kellen Davis to tie the score 7–7.
In the third quarter, Pittsburgh retook the lead once more as Roethlisberger got a 2-yard run, but Chicago would rally in the fourth quarter as Cutler threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Johnny Knox. The Steelers would then miss 2 field goal attempts, as the Bears drive the ball down to Steelers territory, ending the drive with kicker Robbie Gould's 44-yard field goal, to give the Bears the lead. The Steelers then fumbled the ball on the ensuing kickoff, ending any chance for a last second hail mary.
With this win, the Bears improved to 1–1.
Week 3