Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka has said that the sacking of Lovie Smith is ridiculous.

The Bears fired their head coach after the team missed out on the playoffs, despite winning 10 of their 16 games this season.

Ditka told WBBM-TV: "You find out as you get through life if you're a coach there's a good chance some day you might be fired, and there's no loyalty.

"The people who own the ball and bat, they've got a right to call the game. So, if they want to fire someone, they fire them."

Ditka was fired by the Bears in 1992, having led Chicago to a Super Bowl win in 1985.