Tag: bears defensive coordinator

Bears to interview Titans CB coach Chris Harris for DC position

Titans cornerbacks coach and former Bears safety Chris Harris will reportedly interview for Chicago’s defensive coordinator position.

Much has been made about the Chicago Bears and their search for an offensive coordinator this offseason, but they’re still in the market for a defensive coordinator as well and look to be targeting an old friend for the job.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bears are interviewing Tennessee Titans pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Chris Harris for their defensive coordinator position. Harris played for the Bears from 2005–2006 and 2010–2011 before getting into coaching.

Harris was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft and became a quality starting safety. He played a key role on the Bears’ stout defense and helped them get to Super Bowl XLI. After being traded to the Carolina Panthers, Harris returned in 2010 and 2011. He totaled 16 interceptions throughout his career, 10 of which came when he was with the Bears.

After his playing days, Harris turned to coaching and was on Marc Trestman’s staff as a defensive quality control coach from 2013–2014. He then spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers as an assistant defensive backs coach (2016–2019) and the Washington Commanders as their defensive backs coach (2020–2022). Harris interviewed for a job on the Bears staff last year before ultimately joining the Titans.

With Harris coaching the Titans defensive backs, Tennessee was middle of the road when it came to pass defense. They were 18th in passing yards allowed per game (227.4), but had the fewest interceptions (6) and pass breakups (55) in the league last year.

Still, Harris has been a rising coach for the last few years and would be a good fit for the Bears. With Matt Eberflus likely holding onto playcalling responsibilities, Harris could continue to grow into the role and help develop Chicago’s young defensive unit, especially their secondary, with his former position coach Jon Hoke.

Harris is the first publicly known candidate for the role and likely won’t be the last.

Twitter reacts to Sean Desai’s promotion to Bears defensive coordinator

The Bears promoted safeties coach Sean Desai to defensive coordinator, which was met with plenty of excitement on Twitter.

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 NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Desai has been with the team since 2013 and replaces Chuck Pagano, who retired after leading the Bears defense for two seasons. The man nicknamed “Doc” spent six years as the team’s quality control assistant before being promoted to the safeties coach in 2019.

Desai won the job over other candidates such as Dallas Cowboys assistant George Edwards, former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher, Indianapolis Colts secondary coach Jonathon Gannon and Bears legend Mike Singletary.

The news drew plenty of reactions on Friday afternoon as many former players, fans, and analysts shared their thoughts on the new Bears defensive coordinator.

The Bears are hiring Sean Desai as their new defensive coordinator

The Bears are promoting from within at defensive coordinator as Sean Desai will replace Chuck Pagano.

The Chicago Bears have several openings among their coaching staff, and they’ve filled the most important one with a familiar face.

Following Chuck Pagano’s retirement, the Bears are hiring Sean Desai to serve as the team’s new defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Desai served as the Bears’ safeties coach from 2019-20, but he’s been with the team since 2013, where he served as a quality control assistant prior to being promoted to safeties coach.

The Bears interviewed a slew of candidates, including some outside names like James Bettcher, Jonathon Gannon and even Mike Singletary. But ultimately, they decided to promote from within with Desai.

Desai is one of former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s disciples, so he has a good understanding of how to utilize these players in a similar system.

Just so you know how high the Bears have been on him, they blocked Fangio from taking Desai to Denver, according to Brad Biggs, when Fangio took over as head coach.

By promoting from within, Chicago should avoid a complete reshuffling of coaches on the defensive side of the ball. Minus defensive line Jay Rodgers, who is expected to reunite with Brandon Staley with the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Report: Bears DL coach Jay Rodgers expected to depart for Chargers

With the Bears in the midst of a search for a new defensive coordinator, they’ll also be in the hunt for a new defensive line coach.

With the Chicago Bears in the midst of a search for a new defensive coordinator to replace a retired Chuck Pagano, it sounds like they’ll also be in the hunt for a new defensive line coach.

According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, defensive line coach Jay Rodgers is expected to reunite with former Bears outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley, who was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Biggs didn’t specify the specific role, but it could be defensive coordinator.

Rodgers has overseen some impressive defensive line units and has been integral in the development of the likes of Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols, Roy Robertson-Harris and Nick Williams, among others.

It was previously reported that passing game coordinator Dave Ragone could be headed to the Atlanta Falcons, where he’s a favorite to land the offensive coordinator role under new head coach Arthur Smith.

Also according to Biggs, Bears running backs coach Charles London could also be headed to the Falcons.

The Bears are currently searching for a defensive coordinator to succeed Pagano, and they’ve already conducted some interviews. According to The Athletic, Chicago has interviewed former Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher, Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon and Bears legend Mike Singletary for defensive coordinator this week.

Rodgers, along with safeties coach Sean Desai, was once thought to be a favorite in-house candidate to land the defensive coordinator position, but that doesn’t sound likely now.

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Report: Bears interviewed Mike Singletary for defensive coordinator position

According to The Athletic, Chicago interviewed former defensive legend Mike Singletary for their vacant defensive coordinator position.

The Chicago Bears are on the hunt for their next defensive coordinator following Chuck Pagano’s retirement, and there have been several intriguing candidates. But none more intriguing than a former Super Bowl champion that knows a thing or two about great defenses.

Chicago has interviewed Bears legend Mike Singletary for their defensive coordinator vacancy, according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns.

Singletary played his entire 11-year career with the Bears from 1981-92. Singletary hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2016, when he served as a defensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams.

Singletary first got his coaching start as linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens before  spent several years in San Francisco, where he served as assistant head coach and linebackers coach with the 49ers from 2005-08. Singletary also served as San Francisco’s interim head coach in 2008 before being promoted to head coach from 2009-10.

Then in 2011, Singletary reunited with former teammate Leslie Frazier in Minnesota, where he served as his special assistant and coached the linebackers from 2011-13.

According to Jahns, the Bears interviewed Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon on Tuesday and James Bettcher on Monday for the defensive coordinator vacancy.

It’s also reported that defensive line coach Jay Rodgers and safeties coach Sean Desai are the favorite in-house candidates to succeed Pagano as defensive coordinator.

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Bears interviewed James Bettcher for defensive coordinator

Chicago continued its search for a new defensive coordinator, taking a look at former Giants and Cardinals DC James Bettcher.

The Chicago Bears have an offseason faced with several important decisions, which includes with finding a replacement for defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, who retired at season’s end.

The Bears interviewed former New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher for their vacant defensive coordinator position, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There have been reports that Chicago has requested interviews with the likes of Dallas Cowboys defensive assistant George Edwards and Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon for the position.

Chicago has also looked internally for Pagano’s replacement, where defensive line coach Jay Rodgers and safeties coach Sean Desai are among the favorites.

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Report: Bears have requested to speak with George Edwards about defensive coordinator job

The Bears are exploring all avenues to find a new defensive coordinator, which includes speaking with Cowboys assistant George Edwards.

The Chicago Bears have a vacancy at defensive coordinator, and they’re taking their time to examine all of the in-house and other candidates to replace Chuck Pagano, who retired this offseason.

Following a report that the Bears put in a request to interview Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon, Chicago is also requesting to speak with Dallas Cowboys defensive assistant George Edwards about their defensive coordinator opening, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

If the Bears are looking for experience at the defensive coordinator position, Edwards might be their guy. Before serving as Dallas’ senior defensive assistant, Edwards was the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator from 2014-19. Before that, he also served as defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2010-11) and the Washington Football Team (2003).

Interestingly enough, Edwards interviewed for the Bears’ coaching vacancy back in 2018 before Matt Nagy was hired. So he’s someone that’s been on their radar.

There have been reports that the Bears are also considering some internal candidates for the defensive coordinator position, namely defensive line coach Jay Rodgers and safeties coach Sean Desai.

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Report: Bears request to interview Colts DB coach Jonathan Gannon for defensive coordinator

Colts DB coach Jonathan Gannon is among the candidates the Bears are looking at to fill the role of defensive coordinator.

The Chicago Bears have plenty of questions during this 2021 offseason, and one of those is who will succeed Chuck Pagano as the team’s defensive coordinator.

While there’s a belief that Chicago will look internally at potential replacements, they’re also looking around the league.

The Bears have put in a request to interview Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon for the defensive coordinator position, according to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain.

Gannon has been with the Colts since 2018, where he was brought in with head coach Frank Reich. Before that, Gannon served as an assistant defensive backs/quality control coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-17.

Some of the internal names being discussed for Chicago’s defensive coordinator include safeties coach Sean Desai and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers, who is expected to garner interest as defensive coordinator around the NFL.

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Jay Rodgers, Sean Desai are the top in-house candidates for Bears defensive coordinator

With the Bears in market for a new defensive coordinator, there are two internal coaches that are favorites to land the gig.

The Chicago Bears are on the market for a new defensive coordinator following the retirement of Chuck Pagano, who served in the role for the previous two seasons.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapport, the top internal candidates for defensive coordinator are defensive line coach Jay Rodgers and safeties coach Sean Desai.

Rapoport also noted that Rodgers, whose contract with the Bears expires next week, is expected to receive defensive coordinator interest from around the league as head coach spots are filled.

Rodgers has served as the Bears defensive line coach for the last six seasons, and he’s a rollover from the John Fox era. It’s easy to see why given the defensive line has been one of Chicago’s best units during that span.

Desai is one of former Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s guys. The Bears blocked Fangio from taking Desai to Denver, according to Brad Biggs. Desai is familiar with the scheme and this roster of players, and like Rodgers, he could be an up-and-coming defensive coordinator.

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Chuck Pagano issues statement following retirement

Chicago will be on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator following an announcement that Chuck Pagano is retiring after 36 years coaching.

The Chicago Bears will be on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator following an official announcement that Chuck Pagano is retiring after 18 years coaching in the NFL.

Pagano served as Chicago’s defensive coordinator from 2019-20, where he led a Bears defense that ranked among the top 10 in both years. Pagano replaced Vic Fangio, who went on to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos following the 2018 season.

In two seasons under Pagano, the Bears defense ranked fourth in the NFL in points allowed (18.6 per game) and eighth in yards (324.1) in 2019 and 13th in points (23.0) and 11th in yards (347.3) in 2020.

Pagano released a statement through ChicagoBears.com, where he thanked the Bears organization, as well the Indianapolis Colts organization, which supported him through his battle with leukemia.

“After 36 years of coaching the game I love, I have decided to retire from the National Football League,” Pagano said in a statement.

“I’d like to sincerely thank the McCaskey family, Ted Phillips, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organization. Also, many thanks to the Irsay family and the Colts organization. I am forever grateful to that community and to the support they have always given me both on and off the field. I’d also like to thank all the coaches, players and staff throughout my career. Thank you will never be enough to express my gratitude.

“As much as I love coaching, it takes a lot of time away from your family and loved ones. I’m excited to start this new chapter of my life and can’t wait to be able to spend more time with my family. This has been an amazing ride and I have made countless relationships that I will cherish forever.”

Bears head coach Matt Nagy also commented on Pagano’s retirement, noting that Pagano broke the news to him on Tuesday morning.

“I did not know Chuck at all prior to these last two years,” Nagy said, “and what he’s brought to us and what he’s taught us—everybody in our family here—is second to none. For him to come to me [Tuesday] morning and break the news to me and just say it’s time to call it a career and he’s going to walk away, he’s sacrificed, his family’s sacrificed so much for him and now it’s time for him to sacrifice for them. He’s at total peace with it, and so I just think again thank you coach for that and he’s going to be a great grandad and enjoy that family time.”

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