Who Bears Can Consider For A Vacant Defensive Coordinator Position

News broke Tuesday night that Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano was retiring from the NFL. Matt Nagy confirmed the news in the Bears’ year-end press the next day. As it stands, the Bears diet of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace faces a classic “win-or-do” situation after a very disappointing 2020 season.

Due to a likely ‘lame duck’ scenario taking place at Halas Hall, we might not see a long list of external candidates jumping for work. Instead, I would suspect internal promotion as the likely path. This sentiment seems to be predominant among most Chicago media writers. Most conversations started from the inside out, topped off by a recent example of former Bears outside linebacker coach Brandon Staley being “that guy” Chicago should have kept in 2019.

Then again, who doesn’t want to train a defense led by players like Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith and Eddie Jackson across all three levels? He has the talent for any coordinator with good judgment to come in and get it right right away.

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Ted Monachino, OLB Coach and Senior Defensive Assistant, Chicago Bears – He is the only internal candidate who has previous experience as a defensive coordinator. Monachino held DC responsibilities for Chuck Pagano and the Indianapolis Colts from 2016 to 2017. His NFL career dates back to his Jacksonville debut as the Jaguars’ defensive line coach from 2006 to 2009. His best job came with the Baltimore Ravens as the OLB coach from 2010 to 2015.

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Jay Rodgers, DL Coach, Chicago Bears – If you’re looking for the closest comparison in terms of ascent to Brandon Staley, this is your guy. Jay comes from a very extensive course of quality internships and professional experience.

Coaches he has served with and learned with include Nick Saban and Will Muschamp at LSU; Wayne Nunnely, John Fox and Jack Del Rio with the Denver Broncos; and Vic Fangio with Chuck Pagano while with the Chicago Bears. Everywhere he went he produced serious results. Frankly, it’s time for him to be considered for a long overdue promotion in DC.

Mark DeLeone, ILB Coach, Chicago Bears – He’s a quick student in the Chicago staff. Hired from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, Mark’s job at ILB has been impressive, to say the least. Roquan Smith appears to be a longtime cog in Chicago’s defense, and he really helped improve former ILB Bears Nick Kwiatkoski in passing coverage. He also did an exceptional job in the same position with the Chiefs, accelerating the development and coaching of Reggie Ragland with a major spark. His energy and high-paced mindset would match Matt Nagy’s well.

Sean Desai, Safety Coach, Chicago Bears – Where Mark DeLeone is a quick riser, Sean Desai is the veteran of that coaching staff. Opposite, Desai has been working with the Chicago Bears since 2013 after hiring as a Quality Control Assistant. In 2019, he was promoted to the team’s safety coach after Ed Donatell left for the Denver Broncos DC position under Vic Fangio. Brad Biggs recently highlighted Sean Desai in his latest ‘Ten Thoughts’ article:

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James Bettcher, former DC for Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants – His last experience didn’t go well, with the Giants finishing 30th in pass defense, and close to the bottom in most categories between 2018 and 2019. He also wasn’t very talented to begin with. , especially the edge and the secondary. Along with the Cardinals, his Red Birds were some of the league’s scariest defenders.

How good was the Cardinals’ defense under James Bettcher? The 2016 season was its best statistically, finishing 2nd overall and leading the NFL in the sacks (48). Between 2015 and 2017, the Cardinals finished at least 6th overall. His aggressive and exotic look took the NFL by storm as he had a knack for making his philosophies work.

James is also the only name that has been mentioned multiple times with the Chicago Bears. It dates back to 2018, where he was the only coach identified in the event Vic Fangio left a year earlier (he didn’t.) Even after James Bettcher’s decision to accept the DC job with Pat Shurmer in New York, he kept in touch with Matt Nagy and Chuck Pagano.

On what date were the two parties in contact with each other? According to this ESPN article, Bettcher spoke to Chuck Pagano and Matt Nagy as an unofficial advisor. Brad Biggs, in the same post embedded above, mentioned the same thing. Combined with Chicago’s current cast of defense talent, Bettcher would make the most sense of any outside hire. Consider him the favorite for this post if no promotion is done at Halas Hall.

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Gregg Williams, former DC and multiple team assistant – There is no doubt that Gregg Williams’ resume and background will tie into a team led by a head coach in the hot seat. There is no doubt that from experience alone he is arguably the most qualified trainer in the open market.

He’s also on my personal “do not interview” list. I’ll be courteous here, and I’ll just say that the scandals and the problems he brings with him aren’t worth the Chicago Bears’ attention. If you want a more extreme take, feel free to follow my Twitter account.

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Keith Butler, DC (and currently free agent), Pittsburgh Steelers – Keith is a plan to consider for the Bears defense. However, he is also (as of this moment) a free agent. And, he could technically be offered a promotion to “assistant head coach and defensive coordinator” under the league’s new rules for coaching promotions. If I’m Matt Nagy, and if I really want to make a splash as a DC hire, I’d throw my money at Butler.

What Keith Butler has done with the Steelers is incredible. His strong suit is linebackers, but he has developed All-Pro-caliber players at all levels of the modern steel curtain. The two-time Super Bowl champion has accumulated eighteen years in the NFL. Again, I also think he’ll sign with the Steelers again or venture elsewhere with long-term security.

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Daniel Bullocks, safety trainer, San Francisco 49ers – Butler is the only free veteran I would like the Bears to race on. Daniel Bullocks, on the other side of the coin, is the only promising young coach outside of Chicago that I’d like to see an interview for the Bears job in DC. Again, I imagine he gets promoted to DC at San Fran if Robert Saleh takes a head coach job, but Bullocks brings a good combination of experience and teaching ability.

One of the biggest things you’ll hear from The Bay is how much its players love it. Don’t let his age fool you, he has full control of the DB room when he speaks. When you have guys like Richard Sherman in your locker room, respect is everything. I was largely impressed with the good fundamentals in coverage, pursuit and tackle. I think he’s ready for the next step as a DC in the NFL.

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The Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator position is sandwiched between two perceptions. On the one hand, this is a unit packed with elite talent across all three levels, from D-line through high school. On the other hand, it is also under head coach Matt Nagy whose seat has become white-hot. Applicants looking for long-term security may not benefit from it in Chicago.

That being said, here’s how these options are stacked:

1. Jay rodgers
2. Keith Butler
3. James bettcher

Jay Rodgers is due for promotion in DC. Whether it’s with the Bears – it has to be in my opinion – or not, he will be an extremely successful coach. Rodgers has long been cured by many great coaching minds on the defensive side of the ball. It’s time for him to take his chance, and bears must take the chance. No need to let your best assistants out of the building without offering a substantial promotion.

Keith Butler would be the “white whale” if he decided to go our separate ways. Recently, he was reportedly in talks with the Steelers to return as DC for 2021. If Matt Nagy is to make that sensation – it will be difficult – then he has to act fast. Otherwise, I don’t expect Butler to hit the market at this time next week.

James Bettcher is the ultimate wild card here. If you’re a bettor, James Bettcher is the most likely favorite to land the job if Chicago chooses his hiring away. We have seen how good his defense can be. We have also seen how so bad it can be. He spent 2020 away from the NFL to focus on himself and polish his plans. Equipped with the talent available in Chicago and the aggressive mindset of Matt Nagy, I think Bettcher would be a perfect fit.

My prediction is that Chicago will promote these four candidates that I listed at the top of this article. The timing of Chuck Pagano’s retirement and a “win or not” mentality will greatly influence this research. It’s up to Matt Nagy to find the right guy for the job.

Overall, good options exist for this talented group of defenders. At least as long as it’s not Gregg Williams … if that were to happen, fire everyone.