Tag: chuck pagano

8 notable NFL coaches who missed games during the season since 2005

Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury is part of these eight NFL coaches who had to miss games during an NFL season.

Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury will not make the trip to Cleveland to help his 5-0 squad extend their winning streak against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium Sunday.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, former Denver Broncos coach from 2017-18, will take his place.

The criterion is coaches who missed a game or more and came back at some point during the regular season. Instances where a coach resigned due to the game not being fun anymore (Bum Phillips, 1985) or for what were determined to be health reasons (Bobby Ross, 2000) are outside the realm as they did not come back for that given season.

Akiem Hicks on Bears hiring Sean Desai: ‘Couldn’t have made a better choice’

A key veteran defensive player has come out in support of the Bears hiring Sean Desai as their new defensive coordinator last month.

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A key veteran defensive player has come out in support of the Chicago Bears hiring Sean Desai as their new defensive coordinator last month.

Defensive end and team captain Akiem Hicks spent Monday night answering questions from fans on Twitter and was asked if he believed the defense could become a top unit in the league once again. Hicks answered the question indirectly and praised his new defensive coordinator, who he believes can get them back to that point.

“Couldn’t have made a better choice for DC,” Hicks said in his tweet. “I’ve watched him grow as a coach every year since I’ve been in Chicago. I think it’s his time. He has a system that already worked here with pretty much same personnel.”

Hicks has spent the last five years working with Desai ever since he signed with Chicago as a free agent in 2016. A former quality control coach, Desai worked his way up the staff and become the team’s safeties coach in 2019 and 2020, before taking over for the now-retired Chuck Pagano. Former players such as outside linebacker Sam Acho and guard Kyle Long praised the move when it became official. 

The former Pro Bowler’s support isn’t necessarily surprising, but one might wonder what he would have thought if his former position coach was offered the job. Jay Rodgers, the Bears former defensive line coach who now coaches outside linebackers with the Los Angeles Chargers, was a candidate to replace Pagano as well. He and Desai were considered the two internal finalists, but Rodgers joined former Bears coach Brandon Staley in Los Angeles prior to the Bears hiring of Desai.

Many expect Desai to bring back the schemes of former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who became the head coach of the Denver Broncos two years ago after spending four seasons leading the Bears defense and was Desai’s mentor. Hicks referenced Fangio’s system working well in Chicago in his tweet.

Hicks, like the defense as a whole, will look to bounce back after an uneven year. He finished the season with 49 tackles and three and a half sacks in 15 games in 2020. But if Hicks is correct about Desai, he may find himself having a resurgent season in 2021, along with the rest of the unit.

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Report: The Bears are losing RB coach Charles London to the Falcons

The Chicago Bears are looking at replacing more than one member of Matt Nagy’s coaching staff this offseason.

The Chicago Bears are looking at replacing more than one member of Matt Nagy’s coaching staff this offseason. While the Bears are currently searching for Chuck Pagano’s replacement at defensive coordinator, Chicago is due to lose a couple of offensive coaches.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to hire Bears running backs coach Charles London. London would join new head coach Arthur Smith’s coaching staff as quarterbacks coach.

London isn’t the only coach the Falcons are taking from the Bears. Passing coordinator Dave Ragone is expected to join Atlanta as their new offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There have also been rumblings of defensive line coach Jay Rodgers leaving Chicago for the Los Angeles Chargers, where he would reunite with former Bears outside linebackers coach and new Chargers head coach Brandon Staley.

That would leave the Bears with four openings on staff, including defensive coordinator. Chicago has interviewed several candidates already, including Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon, former New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator James Bettcher and Bears legend Mike Singletary.

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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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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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