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 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.”
Couldn’t have made a better choice for DC. 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
— akiem hicks (@The_Dream99) February 23, 2021
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.
List
5 Bears that could be on the chopping block this offseason
