The Bears on Friday promoted Sean Desai from security technician to defensive coordinator. The 37-year-old replaces Chuck Pagano, who announced his retirement on January 13, after 36 years as a coach.
Desai was originally hired by Bears in 2013 and is the only remnant of former coach Marc Trestman’s team. Desai spent six seasons as a defensive quality control assistant, from 2013 to 18, before being promoted to security technician in 2019.
“We are very happy and excited to promote internally and announce that Sean Desai has been appointed defensive coordinator for our football team,” said coach Matt Nagy in a statement. “He is a person of great football intelligence, extremely detailed, has a very strong work ethic and I cannot think of anyone more deserving to lead our defense.
“Sean is a family man of great character and the respect he has for coaches, players and the team is second to none.”
In his role as quality assurance assistant, Desai worked with Bears backs and linebackers, while assisting special teams.
While the Bears were looking for Pagano’s replacement, former Bears external linebacker Sam I think gave Desai strong support. In a post on Twitter, I think he wrote: “The Bears don’t have to go far to their next DC. Sean Desai has been ready for this role for years. He was Vic Fangio’s right hand for 4 years and helped create this defense for greatness. Intelligent, talented, knows what a ball is and has all the credentials. All he needs is an opportunity. “
In response to the fans, I think tweeted: “Desai is a spit image of [former Bears outside linebackers coach and current Chargers head coach] Brandon Staley. Brilliant defensive mind, the scheme is out of this world. “AND”[the scheme] would be the same as you saw in 2018 with Vic [Fangio]. “
Desai began his coaching career at Temple, his alma mater, in 2006, serving as a defense assistant and coach for special teams for five seasons. As coordinator of special teams in 2010, at the age of 27, he was one of the youngest coordinators of college football.
Desai was assistant director of football operations at the University of Miami (Florida) in 2011, before spending the 2012 season as a running back coach and coordinator of special teams at Boston College.
Desai received a doctorate in educational administration, with an emphasis on higher education, at Temple in May 2008, working as an adjunct professor at the school in 2009 and 2010, teaching in the masters and doctorate programs in educational administration.
In two seasons under Pagano, the Bears defense was fourth in the NFL in allowed points (18.6 per game) and eighth in yards (324.1) in 2019 and 13th in points (23.0) and 11th in yards (347.3) in 2020.
The defense regressed throughout the 2020 season. The unit allowed only nine touchdowns in the first six games of the year, helping Bears to open with a 5-1 record. In the last six regular season matches, however, the defense allowed 21 TDs.
The decline was especially significant in two main areas: After being first in the NFL in percentage of red zone touchdown and efficiency of third down in its first eight games, Bears was in 31st place in both categories in the last eight games .
Ragone, London, join the Falcons
In another news from the coach, Bears’ pass coordinator Dave Ragone and running back coach Charles London left the team to join the Falcons team under new coach Arthur Smith. Ragone becomes Atlanta’s offensive coordinator, while London makes the transition to the defenders’ coach.
Ragone joined the Bears in 2016 as a defender coach under John Fox and was the only coach in an offensive position to remain with the team when Nagy was hired in 2018. Ragone continued as a defender coach during the 2019 season before serving as coordinator. passing game in 2020.
London has spent the last three seasons as a running back coach under Nagy. It was London’s second stint at Bears, having served as an offensive quality control assistant on coach Lovie Smith’s 2007-09 team. London also served as a running back coach at college in Duke (2006) and Penn State (2012-13) and in the NFL with the Texans (2014-17). His role with the Falcons is first as a coach for defenders.