Mike Pettine caused the Bears all kinds of problems as the Packers’ defensive coordinator the last three seasons. So Matt Nagy hired him.
Pettine will join the staff as a senior adviser to new defensive coordinator Sean Desai. While Desai is thought to be the youngest defensive coordinator in team history, Pettine had that position for eight years with the Jets and Bills and was head coach of the Browns for two seasons.
Nagy went 1-5 against the Packers when they had Pettine, and the Bears averaged 17.3 points and 333.5 yards while quarterback Mitch Trubisky posted a 77.1 passer rating.
The Bears and Packers were tied for 13th in fewest points allowed last season at 23.1, and the Packers were ninth in total defense. Pettine’s contract expired at the end of the season.
The move should finalize the Bears’ defensive staff in the wake of Chuck Pagano’s retirement.
Desai was promoted to defensive coordinator after six years as a quality control assistant and two as safeties coach.
Other than secondary coach Deshea Townsend, it’ll be a mostly revamped group. Desai hired inside linebackers coach Bill McGovern, outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey and defensive line coach Chris Rumph.
The Bears also announced they promoted offensive quality control assistant Mike Snyder by adding assistant quarterbacks coach to his title and they officially promoted Henry Burris to offensive quality control coach. Last season, Burris was on staff as a Bill Walsh Coaching Fellow to offensive quality control assistant.
