Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to get rid of a legend.
The Bears once decided that Kevin Butler was done and replaced him in 1996 with Carlos Huerta, who’d kicked for coach Dave Wannstedt while the latter was on the University of Miami staff. Huerta missed three of seven field goals over his first three games, including two kicks inside 40 yards. Huerta was gone after missing a tie-breaking kick from 44 yards in the fourth quarter of a loss to Minnesota.
Connor Barth was signed after Robbie Gould lost the confidence of the coaching staff, with missed kicks last season and missed extra points this preseason.