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The Chicago Bears have found their new defensive coordinator in Sean Desai, who has been receiving glowing reviews since he was promoted. And for the first time, we got to hear what a current Bears player had to say about Desai becoming the new defensive coordinator.
Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols joined the Hoge and Jahns podcast, where he sounded off on Desai’s promotion. And, just as many had said before, the expectation is for Desai’s defense to be a continuation of former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
“I think he’s going to have a very similar flavor to Vic Fangio,” Nichols said. “I think you’ll see a lot of similarities with our defense this year vs our defense in 2018.”
Desai has been hailed as Fangio’s righthand man — the guy that helped Fangio build that defense from 2015 to the top unit in the league in 2018. Nichols expects more of the same from this defense in 2021.
“I think you’re going to see a lot of the same similar type of schemes (as Fangio), the same similar type of plays being run, because (Desai is) a Vic Fangio disciple,” Nichols said. “He going to bring that type of energy. So we’re excited about that. I can’t wait to see it.”
Following Chuck Pagano’s retirement, the Bears looked in-house and elsewhere for his replacement. Ultimately, they decided to promote from within and give a rising, young coach an opportunity — someone that has the football smarts.
“He’s always been a high football IQ guy,” Nichols said of Desai. “Always been a guy that prepared. And he knows his stuff. Point blank. Period. That’s why we call him ‘The Doc,’ because he’s so smart. He knows everything. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited and I’m happy he’s finally getting his opportunity.”
Desai has been with the Bears since 2013, when Marc Trestman hired him as a quality control assistant. Since then, he’s worked his way up the ranks, most recently to safeties coach in 2019, where he served for two seasons under Pagano. Now, Desai gets the opportunity to return this Bears defense to greatness — just like he helped his mentor do.
“We’re confident in him and we know he’s the right person for the job, so he doesn’t have to be anybody but himself,” Nichols said. “That’s what got him to this point so far. I think you’re going to see a calm dude, but one thing about Coach Desai, he’s got you schemed up.”