The 2010 season was the Chicago Bears' 91st in the National Football League (NFL) and their seventh under head coach Lovie Smith.
Coming off a 7–9 record in the 2009 season and failing to qualify for the NFL playoffs for a third consecutive season, the Bears sought to develop their roster and improve on their record in 2010, particularly their standing in the NFC North. All Bears home games were scheduled to be played at Soldier Field. With their final regular season record at 11–5, the Bears improved drastically on their 2009 record. Their regular season finished with their first playoff appearance since the Super Bowl season of 2006, winning the NFC North division and earning a bye as the NFC's second seed. The Bears won their first game in the Divisional round of the playoffs, defeating the Seattle Seahawks, to advance to the NFC Championship game. However, their season came to an end with a 21–14 loss to their longtime rivals and eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
This was the last time the Bears won the NFC North and appeared in the postseason until 2018. This was also the most recent season in which the Bears had won a playoff game until 2025, when they defeated Green Bay in the Wild Card round.
Offseason
Coaching changes On January 5, 2010, Chicago fired offensive coordinator Ron Turner as well as position coaches Pep Hamilton (quarterbacks), Rob Boras (tight ends), and Harry Hiestand (offensive line). Quality control assistants Luke Butkus and Charles London did not have their respective contracts renewed. While it's unclear whether or not former defensive coordinator Bob Babich will be brought back as a linebackers coach or released, his contract will not be extended under its current terms.
Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice was selected to succeed Hiestand as the Bears' offensive line coach on January 15.
After nearly a month-long search for Turner's replacement, on February 1, 2010, former St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz was hired to the Chicago coaching staff as offensive coordinator.
Following the Martz hire, Mike DeBord, former college head coach and Seattle Seahawks position coach, as a tight ends coach.
With the addition of Martz and DeBord in the offseason, the amount of experience on the staff grew. These two offseason acquisitions joined defensive line coach (and former Detroit Lions head coach), Rod Marinelli.
In a series of moves finalizing their 2010 coaching roster, the Bears hired former San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Shane Day (an assistant to Mike Martz during his tenure in San Francisco) and quality control coaches Andrew Hayes-Stoker and Mikal Smith, assigned to the offense and defense, respectively. Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli was promoted to defensive coordinator and his assistant, Eric Washington, was promoted to the vacated position.
On April 27, 2010, the Bears allowed the contract of director of college scouting, Greg Gabriel, a member of the Bears scouting staff since 2001, to expire. There has been no announcement regarding who will succeed him.
In a long anticipated move, on April 30, the Bears welcomed former Seattle Seahawks officer Tim Ruskell to assume the post of director of pro personnel at Halas Hall.
2010 NFL draft
Draft pick trades In 2009, Chicago traded their second round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Gaines Adams. In 2009, the Bears traded their 2010 first round pick (along with 2009 NFL draft selections and quarterback Kyle Orton) to the Denver Broncos for quarterback Jay Cutler.
2010 Chicago Bears draft choices
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Freddie Barnes Wide receiver Bowling Green Cornelius Brown Cornerback UTEP Vic Hall Wide receiver Virginia Levi Horn Tackle Montana Greg Matthews Wide receiver Michigan Matt Mayberry Linebacker Indiana Brandon Minor Running back Michigan Antonio Robinson Wide receiver Nicholls State Jimmy Saddler-McQueen Defensive tackle Texas A&M–Kingsville Quentin Scott Safety Northern Iowa Averell Spicer Defensive tackle USC Barry Turner Defensive end Nebraska Vince Vance Guard Georgia Tim Walter Center Colorado State
Training Camp
The Bears announced in April that the first Training Camp session will be held on July 30, 2010, at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. This is preceded by the official Rookie Mini-Camp which traditionally is held the weekend following the NFL Draft at Halas Hall, this year beginning on April 30.
Rookie Mini-Camp A total of 54 players were listed on the roster sheet for the Chicago Bears' April 30 – May 3 Rookie Mini-Camp at Halas Hall. In addition to the five drafted rookies and the 13 rookie signees, the Bears invited 31 undrafted free agents to participate on a try-out basis.
Chicago Bears 2010 Rookie Mini-Camp Roster Quarterbacks Dan LeFevour Juice Williams
Running backs Shamar Graves FB Brandon Minor Jake Sharp
Wide receivers Freddie Barnes Justin Buckhalter Vic Hall Zeke Markshausen Greg Mathews Nick Merchut Antonio Robinson Steven Turner Tight ends Craig Carey
Offensive linemen Dennis Conley G Levi Horn T Austin Steichen C Vince Vance G Tim Walter C J'Marcus Webb T
Defensive linemen Brian Coulter DE Kyle Harrington DT Jimmy Saddler-McQueen DT Averell Spicer DT Barry Turner DE Lawrence Wilson DE Corey Wootton DE Linebackers Malcolm Arrington Chris Johnson Kevin Malast* ILB Matt Mayberry OLB Damaso Munoz Blaze Soares
Defensive backs Cornelius Brown CB Ryan McFoy S Raeshon McNeil CB Josh Moore CB Cam Nelson S Wopamo Osaisai CB Roderick Rollins CB Quentin Scott SS Woodny Turenne* CB Justin Woodall S Major Wright FS Special teams Will Batson P Desi Cullen P Tom Harrington LS Thomas Mante K Andrew Pitz LS Mike Salerno K Chase Turner P
Drafted players in bold Undrafted signees in italics Non-Rookie Participants marked with asterisks (*)
54 Total, 5 Drafted, 13 Signed, 31 Unsigned
Summary of offseason roster changes Chicago Bears 2010 Offseason Roster Changes Departures Gaines Adams DE – Died of cardiac arrest Brett Basanez QB – Released Alex Brown DE – Released Dusty Dvoracek DT – Unsigned RFA Marcus Freeman OLB – Waived Kevin Jones RB – Released Fontel Mines TE – Waived Darrell McClover OLB – Unsigned UFA Adewale Ogunleye DE – Unsigned UFA Orlando Pace OT – Waived Kevin Payne FS – Traded to St. Louis Adrian Peterson RB – Unsigned UFA Tyler Reed OG – Waived Nathan Vasher CB – Released Jamar Williams OLB – Traded to CarolinaResigned Free Agents Unrestricted Free Agents Pisa Tinoisamoa OLB
Restricted Free Agents Josh Bullocks SS Nick Roach OLB
Exclusive-Rights FAs Kahlil Bell RB Tim Shaw ILB Matt Toeaina DT Undrafted Free Agents Freddie Barnes WR Cornelius Brown CB Vic Hall WR Levi Horn OT Greg Matthews WR Matt Mayberry LB Jimmy Saddler-McQueen DT Brandon Minor RB Antonio Robinson WR Quentin Scott S Averell Spicer DT Barry Turner DE Tim Walter C Lawrence Wilson DE 2010 NFL Draft Additions Major Wright S Corey Wootton DE Joshua Moore CB Dan LeFevour QB J'Marcus Webb OT
Free Agency Additions Tim Jennings CB (Indianapolis) Brandon Manumaleuna TE (San Diego) Julius Peppers DE (Carolina) Chester Taylor RB (Minnesota) Eddie Williams FB (Washington)
Acquired via Trade Chris Harris S (reacquired from Carolina)
Rookies in italics Roster updated April 24, 2010 Depth Chart • Transactions 15 Departures, 25 Additions, 8 Resigned Players 10 Net Additions
Final roster
Staff Chicago Bears 2010 staff Front office Secretary of the board of directors – Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman – Michael McCaskey Vice chairman – George McCaskey President/CEO – Ted Phillips General manager – Jerry Angelo Director of player personnel – Tim Ruskell Senior director of football administration/general counsel – Cliff Stein Assistant director of pro personnel – Kevin Turks Area scout – Chris Ballard Area scout – Marty Barrett Area scout – Rex Hogan Area scout – Mark Sadowski
Head coaches Head coach – Lovie Smith Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator – Rod Marinelli
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Mike Martz Quarterbacks – Shane Day Running backs – Tim Spencer Wide receivers – Darryl Drake Tight ends – Mike DeBord Offensive line – Mike Tice Offensive quality control – Andrew Hayes-Stoker Defensive coaches Defensive line – Eric Washington Linebackers – Bob Babich Defensive backs – Jon Hoke Assistant Defensive Backs (Safeties) – Gill Byrd Defensive quality control – Mikal Smith
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 The Bears preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010. Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.comrecap Final score Team record 1 August 14 8:00 p.m. at San Diego Chargers L 10–25 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 21 7:30 p.m. Oakland Raiders L 17–32 0–2 Soldier Field Recap 3 August 28 7:30 p.m. Arizona Cardinals L 9–14 0–3 Soldier Field Recap 4 September 2 7:00 p.m. at Cleveland Browns L 10–13 0–4 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
Regular season
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.comrecap Final score Team record1 September 12 12:00 p.m. Detroit Lions W 19–14 1–0 Soldier Field Fox Recap2 September 19 12:00 p.m. at Dallas Cowboys W 27–20 2–0 Cowboys Stadium Fox Recap3 September 27 7:30 p.m. Green Bay Packers W 20–17 3–0 Soldier Field ESPN Recap4 October 3 7:30 p.m. at New York Giants L 3–17 3–1 New Meadowlands Stadium NBC Recap5 October 10 12:00 p.m. at Carolina Panthers W 23–6 4–1 Bank of America Stadium Fox Recap6 October 17 12:00 p.m. Seattle Seahawks L 20–23 4–2 Soldier Field Fox Recap7 October 24 12:00 p.m. Washington Redskins L 14–17 4–3 Soldier Field Fox Recap 8 Bye9 November 7 12:00 p.m. at Buffalo Bills W 22–19 5–3 Rogers Centre (Toronto) Fox Recap10 November 14 12:00 p.m. Minnesota Vikings W 27–13 6–3 Soldier Field Fox Recap11 November 18 7:20 p.m. at Miami Dolphins W 16–0 7–3 Sun Life Stadium NFLN Recap12 November 28 3:15 p.m.The Week 12 kickoff time vs. the Philadelphia Eagles has been moved from 12:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. CST. ESPNChicago.com Philadelphia Eagles W 31–26 8–3 Soldier Field Fox Recap13 December 5 12:00 p.m. at Detroit Lions W 24–20 9–3 Ford Field Fox Recap14 December 12 3:15 p.m.The Week 14 kickoff time vs. the New England Patriots has been moved from 12:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. CST. ESPNChicago.com New England Patriots L 7–36 9–4 Soldier Field CBS Recap15 December 20 7:30 p.m. at Minnesota Vikings W 40–14 10–4 TCF Bank Stadium** ESPN Recap16 December 26 12:00 p.m. New York Jets W 38–34 11–4 Soldier Field CBS Recap17 January 2 3:15 p.m. at Green Bay Packers L 3–10 11–5 Lambeau Field Fox RecapNotes: All times are Central. Division opponents are in bold text.
Color key: The Bears were the visiting team in the Bills Toronto Series. Games played with white uniforms. Games played with color uniforms. Games played with 1940s throwback uniforms. The game was moved from Mall of America Field to TCF Bank Stadium due to the collapse of the Metrodome roof.
Standings
Regular season
Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions