Bears defensive coordinator, longtime NFL coach Chuck Pagano is retiring, per report Pagano's NFL career includes stints as a secondary coach, defensive coordinator and head coach Just last night, defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano made the decision to step away from football for good. In 2017, they moved into the top-10 in points allowed per game, a tier in which they remained for 3 consecutive years. He’ll inherit a talented roster but one that is also getting a bit on the older side. Since that change in 2015, the Bears defense grew steadily better every year under Fangio’s 3-4 scheme. BY JJ Stankevitz - No team has more money committed to its defense in 2021 than the Bears, who will seek … After a week and a half of searching and interviewing numerous candidates, the Chicago Bears named safeties coach Sean Desai as their new defensive coordinator on Friday, according to … Phillips was last seen with the LA Rams but won a Super Bowl with Von Miller, and the Denver Broncos. Bears re-sign Cairo Santos to 5-year, $16 million deal. Akiem Hicks, Robert Quinn, and Danny Trevathan are also in their 30s. The unit ranked 14th in points allowed and 11th in total yards. The Chicago Bears have several openings among their coaching staff, and they’ve filled the most important one with a familiar face. Sean Desai is in his first season as defensive coordinator for the Bears in 2021 after being hired on January 22, 2021. As far as football instincts go, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone better who’s not currently in, or otherwise destined for Canton. He has changed his scheme throughout his career to meet his personnel. It’s the second time in three seasons this spot has become available. 4-3 Position: Weak Side (Will) Linebacker. 10 potenital defensive coordinators for Chicago Bears. "Vic has been my biggest mentor in the NFL," Desai said. Put the Bears leader in tackles at a position where he’s chasing the football every snap, and offensive coordinators start questioning play calls. They can play a 30 front, a 50 front (which they used a lot this season) and a nickel front, but I’m not sure converting to a 40 front for their base defense is the best use of their current personnel. Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images). Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Chicago Bears: Retaining Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy shows no direction by … (For those looking for an excellent course through defensive position terms, check out Matt Bowen’s article for Bleacher Report). Keep in mind they need to re-sign strong safety Tashaun Gipson or add a new safety as well. The 29-year-old is coming off of the best statistical year of his NFL career. Rumors & rumors of rumors fly around Chicago & Seattle. With some of the latest Defensive Coordinator interviews, it’s worth exploring whether the Bears could be considering a change to a base 4-3 defense. According to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has elected to retire. Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano announced his retirement Wednesday. For those keeping score, this leaves a sizeable hole in the defensive personnel, the Strong Side (Sam) Linebacker. Next Bears defensive coordinator is taking a big risk. Powered by Minute Media © 2021 All Rights Reserved. One notable free agent this offseason for a 4-3 strong side linebacker will be Justin March-Lillard, who has most recently played 3 seasons for the Cowboys. Without elite linebacker play, they couldn’t justify a base 4-3 scheme any longer and hired defensive head coach John Fox to stabilize the organization. He met with the media for the first time and shared some of his ideas on how to do that. To lead Fox’s defensive staff, the Bears brought veteran coordinator Vic Fangio along to spearhead the effort to switch their terminology and base packages to 3-4. A healthy Chargers defense … Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Desai was originally hired by the Bears in 2013 and is the only remaining holdover from former coach Marc Trestman's staff. Who are the realistic quarterback options for the Bears? Quinn could sub into packages as a standup linebacker and still rush B gaps, and the change is significant enough that it may be what the Bears need to get the production from Quinn to match his $14.7 million cap hit. New Bears DC Sean Desai Fangio has had the most significant impact on Desai, but the new Bears defensive coordinator will mesh what he's learned from other coaches as well. If Edwards is hired, and the Bears make the switch to 4-3, look for March-Lillard to be a target in free agency. The Bears are locked into at least 1, but likely 2 more years of Danny Trevathan, who’s on the wrong side of 30 and becoming limited in his abilities. That wouldn’t change in a base 4-3 defense. To efficiently play Smith in a 4-3 system, a coach would have to look at which position requires the most versatility, and they would almost certainly land on the Will Linebacker. Brian Urlacher had retired a few years prior, and the team didn’t view Lance Briggs as healthy enough for another contract. For an organization which had been predominantly a 40 front defense in basically forever, this was a huge change. A week after defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano retired, the Bears’ short list of candidates to replace him is taking shape. Did Chicago Bears confirm old rumor in 2021 press conference. Former Bears linebacker Sam Acho has been advocating for Desai to be promoted to defensive coordinator for awhile now, and now it happened. The Bears have also interviewed Jonathan Gannon and Mike Singletary for the defensive coordinator position, who both have careers in base 4-3 schemes. With Chuck Pagano stepping down a much-needed change is coming to the defense. After he was let go from the Jaguars job, Bradley became the defensive coordinator for the Chargers. In either case it’s a rare occurance for Mack to be doing anything other than chasing quarterbacks, so this shouldn’t concern Bears fans as a scheme change. LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Sean McVay talks with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips of the Los Angeles Rams looks on from the sidelines in the first half of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. When getting creative, the Bears sometimes drop Mack into pass coverage, and a big change would be Mack dropping into the inside gaps to cover run plays on creative sets. Getting to Know New Bears Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai February 15, 2021, by Luis Medina Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears cooked up top-10 defenses in each of the last two seasons under Chuck Pagano, according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. Pettine will work alongside new Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai, who previously served as Chicago's safeties coach. Bears now know the fifth-year option salary for Roquan Smith, switch their terminology and base packages to 3-4, moved into the top-10 in points allowed per game, bit made of Quinn’s adjustment to a 3-4 scheme. Phillips would be a one or two year fix, and would leave the Bears searching soon enough. Also, the Chicago Bears may not be looking young and to have potential mistakes with their defensive coordinator. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Mack will soon turn 30. There’s plenty of smoke, but is there fire? Bears pick new defensive coordinator Sean Desai to return them to Vic Fangio’s glory days Desai was their safeties coach the last two seasons and has been part of the organization since 2013. This is not a wish list but rather a thought of how Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy may be viewing their defensive coordinator search. The Bears on Friday promoted Sean Desai from safeties coach to defensive coordinator. Phillips could be their ideal candidate. The Bears struggled to “unlock” Robert Quinn in 2020, and he finished the years with just 20 total tackles and 2 sacks. Personnel will always be determined by matchups, and the main difference between 3-4 and 4-3 is terminology, not snap counts. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Chicago Bears and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. After a slight decline in defensive production in 2020, Pagano retired and current head coach Matt Nagy was left to search for his 3rd defensive coordinator in 4 years. This is a minor change, as Khalil Mack often lines up against a right tackle and rushes the edge. 1 in points allowed in 2018, it finished fourth in 2019 in the first season under Pagano and then 14th in 2020. Jay Rodgers is among the finest defensive line coaches in the NFL. The 62-year-old Singletary has never been an NFL defensive coordinator, and he hasn’t been on an NFL staff since he worked for the Rams in 2016. Bradley was the original defensive coordinator of the Legion of Boom Seattle Seahawks defense before becoming the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. We asked some of the WCG staffers to give us their top 5 quarterbacks most likely to be the Bears’ week 1 starter in 2021, and then tabulated the results right here. Safety Eddie Jackson and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks have played in Pro Bowls. Gannon is represented by agent Trace Armstrong, the former Bears defensive end, who also has Nagy as a client. Acho says that the defense … He could truly play any of the three linebacker positions in a base 4-3 system, but the Bears have been moving him around so often lately, between covering receivers to protecting against outside runs to blowing up the pocket. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images). However, without much change coming at head coach and front office, it may make the list of candidates smaller than other defensive coordinator jobs. With the success the Bears have had in 3-4 defense, though, and the chance that the defense will again have to lead the effort for the Bears, it’s unlikely the team will make a major change to their defensive playbook. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai is hoping to return the Bears to playing a style more similar to how they played under Vic Fangio, the current Broncos coach who was the defensive coordinator … Join Ashmere and Vik as they interview Sean on his new role as defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears. That said, if the Bears switched to a 4-3 defense, what players would see the greatest change? The talented Bears defense will have a new leader and playcaller this season, after safeties coach Sean Desai was promoted to being defensive coordinator. Chicago Bears defensive backs coach ... Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator & interim … Wade Phillips is another one of the long time great defensive coordinators who has been away from football the past year. With Vic Fangio leaving, head coach Matt Nagy felt a veteran presence … No team has more money committed to its defense in 2021 than the Bears, who will seek a defensive coordinator after Chuck Pagano decided to retire, per multiple reports. The Bears can’t afford to have Trevathan in pass coverage downfield, so they need him in the middle for Cover-1 and watching running backs otherwise. The biggest problem with the Chargers defense in recent years is that they have not been able to stay healthy. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. One of the more interesting interviews the Bears have conducted during their defensive coordinator search is George Edwards, who previously held the position for the division-rival Vikings from 2014-2019. One of the more interesting interviews the Bears have conducted during their defensive coordinator search is George Edwards, who previously held the … Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano to retire Sam Robinson, Pro Football Rumors 1/13/2021. Who are 10 potential defensive coordinators for the Chicago Bears? Pros: Phillips has a long track record of improving every defense he takes over the very next year. He also would not care if he lost his job after one year, he has nothing to lose. New Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai hopes to bring back the dominant unit that Vic Fangio left. George Edwards -- former Vikings defensive coordinator When the Bears were seeking a head coach in January 2018, they considered two candidates with defensive backgrounds. Phillips is 73 years old and currently retired. The incoming defensive coordinator will more likely have to gear his terminology around what the players are more comfortable with as a unit. That included a year (2019) without Fangio, who had left to become head coach of the Broncos. The Bears need a new defensive coordinator after Chuck Pagano retired, but Singletary is a surprising name to see surface. It’s worth mentioning that most NFL teams play sub packages outside of their base around 60% of the time, and the Bears are no exception. Poll of the Day: Will the Bears trade for Russell Wilson. However, he has mentioned he wants to continue to coach in the NFL. While he always turns it around, it is obviously tough to keep up the consistent success he brings. It’s fair to wonder: how would a switch to a base 4-3 defense affect the Bears personnel? With that in mind, the following list will be a look at realistic options and why they may fit in Chicago. Who could be a candidate to replace Pagano and get this highly-paid defense back to being among the best in the NFL? If they do end up hiring from the outside, whoever the guy ends up being will face a tricky situation. During his time in Minnesota, Edwards employed a 4-3 system which had it’s share of playmakers who could take games over. With Chicago currently possessing one … At the time, it made sense. In 1919, [the company's Fellowship Club] had formed a football team. It had done well against other local teams but Mr. Staley wanted to build it into a team that could compete successfully with the best semi-professional and industrial teams in the country ... Mr. Chamberlain asked if I would like to come to Decatur and work for the Staley Company.— George Halas, in his book H… The Bears have options on staff, but only one defensive assistant — outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino — has been an NFL coordinator. Die Chicago Bears müssen sich wohl einen neuen Defensive Coordinator suchen, weil Chuck Pagano offenbar seine Karriere beendet. He ran Pagano’s defense with the Colts in 2016-17. Brad Biggs, a beat writer for the Chicago Tribune, did an excellent job answering this question in his most recent weekly Q&A. Chuck Pagano has vacated the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator job with a sudden retirement. The 37-year-old replaces Chuck Pagano, who announced his retirement Jan. 13 after 36 years in coaching. A member of the Bears' … The Bears interviewed George Edwards, who spent last season as a senior defensive assistant for the Cowboys, for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Cons: At 73 years old, this is obviously a stopgap. Chicago Bears Safeties Coach Sean Desai was promoted to the role of defensive coordinator on Friday, becoming the first NFL coordinator of South Asian and Indian descent There was a bit made of Quinn’s adjustment to a 3-4 scheme when he signed with the Bears last offseason, after he had previously referred to the scheme as “suffocating.” He’s played some of his best football in base 4-3 defenses, and it offers a player of his skillset freedom to move around to play to his strengths. The Bears need to keep Trevathan in the box, and covering inside runs, which is exactly what the Mike Linebacker is tasked with in a 4-3 defense. With all of the issues the Bears have on offense, I don’t think it’s a good idea to create more change on defense than is necessary. Pagano is retiring, leaving the Bears without a defensive coordinator. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The Chicago Bears are going to be expecting results next year, and if things struggle, a defensive coordinator has to know that his future beyond one year is not quite safe. When Marc Trestman and his staff were shown the door at the end of the 2014 NFL season, the Bears knew they needed to make big changes on the defensive front. Chicago Bears news is that Chuck Pagano has decided to retire as the Bears' defensive coordinator which means Matt Nagy will need to hire a new DC. Could the Bears Switch Back to a 4-3 Defense? One of the disappointing aspects of the Chicago Bears in the 2020 season was the subpar play of the defense. Borders restricted nearly a year, Blinken to 'visit' Mexico, Canada. No unit regresses under Phillips. Chicago Bears Schedule, News, Roster and Stats | Windy City Gridiron. Vic Fangio leaving for Denver was of course the other time in 2019. Next Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator Is Already On The Team Chuck Pagano was hired as defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears back in 2019. When asked if he thought the Bears could switch to a 4-3 defense this offseason, he wrote: The Bears would need to add linebackers in a 4-3 scheme too — one if they keep Danny Trevathan and two if they part with him. Roquan is a player who was drafted #8 overall for a reason. In March of 1920 a man telephoned me ... George Chamberlain and he was general superintendent of the A.E. With that, Chicago will be seeking its third defensive coordinator in four seasons. Hicks and Goldman would seamlessly fill the two defensive tackle positions, but to truly convert to 4-3 it would require somebody playing out of position, or else it would require a free agent signing at the Sam position to round out the personnel. The Bears defense has since been headed by former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. He replaces Chuck Pagano, who retired following the 2020 season. After the Bears defense ranked No. Former Cowboys DB Coach Kris Richard, former NFL Coach Marvin Lewis, and even former Chicago head coach Lovie Smith … Chicago Bears: Retaining Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy shows no direction, 5 reasons Chicago Bears will regret retaining Ryan Pace, 15 Best Free Agent Acquisitions of All-Time, Why "collaborate" means draft a quarterback for Chicago Bears, Aaron Rodgers Remembers Every One of His 89 Career Interceptions, Expect Nick Foles back with Chicago Bears in 2021, Chicago Bears: Under-the-radar defensive coordinator candidates.