<P> Lovie Smith, hired on January 15, 2004, is the third post-Ditka head coach . Joining the Bears as a rookie head coach, Smith brought the highly successful Tampa 2 defensive scheme with him to Chicago . Before his second season with the Bears, the team rehired their former offensive coordinator and then Illinois head coach Ron Turner to improve the Bears' struggling offense . In 2005, the Bears won their division and reached the playoffs for the first time in four years . Their previous playoff berth was earned by winning the NFC Central in 2001 . The Bears improved upon their success the following season, by clinching their second consecutive NFC North title during Week 13 of the 2006 season, winning their first playoff game since 1995, and earning a trip to Super Bowl XLI . However, they fell short of the championship, losing 29--17 to the Indianapolis Colts . Following the 2006 season, the club decided to give Smith a contract extension through 2011, at roughly $5 million per year . This comes a season after being the lowest paid head coach in the National Football League . </P> <P> The club has played in over a thousand games since becoming a charter member of the NFL in 1920 . Through the 2010 season, they led the NFL in overall franchise wins with 704 and had an overall record of 704--512--42 (going 687--494--42 during the regular season and 17--18 in the playoffs). On November 18, 2010 the Bears recorded franchise win number 700 in a win against the Miami Dolphins . </P> <P> The Bears made one of the biggest trades in franchise history, acquiring Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos in exchange for Kyle Orton and draft picks on April 2, 2009 . After a disappointing 2009 campaign with the team going 7--9, Mike Martz was hired as the team's offensive coordinator on February 1, 2010 . On March 5, 2010, the Bears signed defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor, and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, spending over $100 million on the first day of free agency . Also during the 2010 offseason, Michael McCaskey was replaced by brother George McCaskey as chairman of the Bears . With a 38--34 win against the New York Jets, the Bears clinched the No. 2 seed and a first - round bye for the 2010--11 NFL playoffs . In their first Playoff game since Super Bowl XLI, The Bears defeated the No. 4 seed Seattle Seahawks 35--24 in the Divisional Round . The Bears reached the NFC Championship Game, where they played Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field--only the second playoff meeting between the two storied rivals, the only other game played in 1941 . The Bears lost the game, 21--14 . </P> <P> The team started the 2011 season strong with a 7--3 record, and running back Matt Forté led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage . Eventually, quarterback Jay Cutler fractured his thumb, and Forté also was lost for the season against the Kansas City Chiefs after spraining his MCL, and the Bears, with Caleb Hanie playing, lost five straight before winning against the Minnesota Vikings with Josh McCown starting in favor over Hanie . At season's end, general manager Jerry Angelo was fired, and former Chiefs director of scouting and former Bears scout Phil Emery was brought in . Offensive coordinator Mike Martz resigned, and eventually retired, and was replaced by offensive line coach Mike Tice . The Bears made another notable move by trading for Miami Dolphins receiver and Pro Bowl MVP Brandon Marshall . The Bears became the first team in NFL history to return six interceptions for touchdowns in the first seven games of the season, with another pick - six by Brian Urlacher in Week 9 bringing Chicago two behind the record set by the 1961 San Diego Chargers . However, the Bears missed the playoffs with a record of 10--6 (after starting the season 7--1, the first team to start with the record and miss the playoffs since the 1996 Washington Redskins), and Smith was fired on December 31 . </P>

When's the last time the chicago bears made the playoffs