Tag: chuck pagano

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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Former Bears LB Sam Acho makes his case for Sean Desai as defensive coordinator

The Bears have one glaring vacancy on their coaching staff and former LB Sam Acho knows just the person to fill it.

The Chicago Bears have one glaring vacancy on their coaching staff and a former player knows just the person to fill it.

Former Bears outside linebacker Sam Acho took to Twitter Monday and voiced his support for safeties coach Sean Desai, urging the team to hire him as the next defensive coordinator following the retirement of Chuck Pagano.

Acho, who played for the Bears from 2015-2018, says Desai “has been ready for that role for years” in a tweet. “[Desai] was Vic Fangio’s right hand man for 4 years and helped craft that defense to greatness. Smart, talented, knows ball and has all the credentials. All he needs is an opportunity.”

The former Bear continued to praise Desai, calling him “a splitting image of Brandon Staley,” who was Acho’s position coach with the Bears from 2017-2018. Staley went on to coach the Denver Broncos outside linebackers in 2019, then became the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator this past season and was just named the Los Angeles Chargers head coach on Sunday evening.

Acho then explained Desai would be the one to get the defense back to their 2018 form.

Desai has been a part of the Bears coaching staff since 2013, when he was hired as the team’s quality control assistant. He worked with the secondary while also contributing to special teams. He held that title until the 2019 season, when he was promoted to safeties coach. Prior to his time with the Bears, Desai was in the college ranks, serving various roles with Temple, the University of Miami, and Boston College.

Acho’s recommendation for Desai comes just days after an NFL Network report indicated Desai and Bears defensive line coach Jay Rodgers were the top internal candidates for the coordinator position. Rodgers, who has also been with the Bears for a number of years, could be a candidate to join Staley in Los Angeles as their defensive coordinator.

With coaching vacancies opening and closing quickly, the Bears need to move fast to find their new coordinator. They’re looking outside the organization too as Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports the team has requested to interview Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon for the open position. If it were up to Acho, however, they should stick with their own secondary coach and give Desai the job.

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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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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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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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Twitter reacts to Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace’s likely return to Bears in 2021

Naturally, Twitter had plenty to say about the expectation that Nagy and Pace will be back in 2021. And most of it is far from encouraged.

The Chicago Bears have an offseason ahead of them with some important decisions to make. Following defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano’s retirement, it sounds like we have some clarity on the Bears’ front office.

Make no mistake, the Bears once again underperformed at 8-8 despite a playoff appearance. And yet, it sounds like Bears brass have all the confidence in the world in the front office to turn things around.

There have been multiple reports around the league that the Bears will retain head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace in 2021, which is a surprise given the Bears lost six straight games just one month ago.

And yet, it sounds like Bears Chairman George McCaskey has seen enough to assure him that they can finally — finally –turn things around in 2021 just long enough to draft the wrong quarterback again and stumble to a 8-8 record to possibly save their jobs in 2022.

Sound familiar?

Naturally, Twitter had plenty to say about the expectation that Nagy and Pace will be back in 2021. And most of it, as you’d imagine, is not pleased.

https://twitter.com/mattnewts/status/1349160465490964482?s=20