Lovie Smith has been let go after nine seasons with Chicago.
Lovie Smith has been let go after nine seasons with Chicago. Reuters

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Bears have given coach Lovie Smith a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2013 season, the Bears said on Friday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

To get a chance to continue to coach here is special, Smith said in a statement.

He led the Bears to the NFC North title and an 11-5 regular season record last year. They were beaten by eventual Super Bowl champions the Green Bay Packers in the NFC title game.

In seven seasons with Chicago, Smith has won three NFC North championships and posted a 66-52 overall record, including a 3-3 playoff mark.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; editing by Justin Palmer)

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