The Bears are hiring Sean Desai as their new defensive coordinator
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.
Big move for the #Bears: Chicago is hiring Sean Desai to be its new defensive coordinator, sources say. To my knowledge, the first person of Indian descent to become a coordinator in the NFL. They call him “Doc” for his doctorate at Temple, now they’ll also call him DC.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 22, 2021
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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