Pettine joins a renewed defense technical team in Chicago. Since the end of the 2020 season, the Bears have promoted Sean Desai from security coach to defensive coordinator and Bill Shuey from defensive pass analyst / assistant linebacker coach to outside linebacker coach, and hired Chris Rumph as defensive line coach, Bill McGovern as internal coach linebackers and Mike Adams as assistant defense coach.
Pettine helped Green Bay win the NFC North title and reach the NFC Championship Game in each of the past two seasons. In 2019, the Packers ranked ninth in the NFL in points allowed per game (19.6), the first time they finished in the top 10 since 2010. Green Bay’s defense also tied for third with 17 interceptions and ranked sixth in the opponent’s passer rating (81.1) The unit also featured the first duo in the franchise’s history to post at least 12 sacks each on the linebackers Za’Darius Smith (13.5) and Preston Smith ( 12.0).
In 2020, Pettine led a Packers defense that ranked ninth in the league in total yards (334.0), eighth in the red zone touchdown percentage (57.7) and tied for 10th in sacks (41). After the season, Za’Darius Smith and cornerback Jaire Alexander were both named All-Pro of the second team.
In Pettine’s first season as head coach of the Browns in 2014, he led them to the highest number of wins (7) since 2007, behind a defense that led the NFL in their opponent’s passer rating (74.1) and completion percentage of the opponent (57.1) and was second in interceptions (21), tied for fourth in takeaways (29), fifth in percentage of TD of the red zone (46.3) and ninth in points per game (21, 1).
Bear security guard Tashaun Gipson Sr. was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2014 while playing for Pettine and the Browns. Gipson recorded a career record of six interceptions, returning them to a 158-yard league lead, including a 62-yard touchdown in the 26-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Before joining Browns, Pettine’s defenses ended in the top 10 in total yards and passing yards in all five seasons as a defensive coordinator with the Jets (2009-12) and Bills (2013).
During Pettine’s four years with the Jets, the defense led the NFL in the opponent’s passer rank (71.0), opponent’s pass completion percentage (52.6) and pass yards per game (186.3) ; ranked second in total yards per game (294.8) and in third-drop efficiency (34.6%) and seventh in points per game (20.0) and takeaways (115).
Pettine helped the Jets reach the AFC Championship Game in each of their first two years with the team. In 2009, the Jets defense led the NFL in points (14.8), total yards (252.3) and passing yards (153.7) per game and opponent’s passer rating (58.8). The 14.8 points set a record for the lowest number in a single season in the franchise’s history.
In 2010, the Jets defense led the NFL in percentage of completion of the opponent’s passes (50.7) and came in third place in total yards (291.5) and running yards (90.9) per game. In 2011, the defense of the Jets was in third place in the classification of passes of the opponent (69.6), in fourth place in percentage of completion of the opponent’s passes (54.2) and tied in fifth place in takeaways (31) – marking the third consecutive season under Pettine that the Jets generated at least 30 takeaways. In 2012, the Jets finished in second place in passing yards per game (189.8) and percentage of completion of the opponent’s passes (53.8) and in seventh place in the classification of the opponent’s passes (78.2).
In Pettine’s only season in Buffalo in 2013, Bills led the NFL in percentage of opponent’s completion (55.3), ranked second in interceptions (23) and sacks (57), third in the opponent’s passer rating ( 74.9), fourth in passing yards per game (204.4) and tied for sixth place in takeaways (30).
Prior to joining the NFL coaching ranks, Pettine was the head coach at North Penn High School (Lansdale, Pa.) From 1997-2001. He took the school to 45 wins in five seasons, including a record 11-2 in 1999.
Pettine also served as a head coach at William Tennent High School (Warminster, Pa.) In 1995-96, taking on a team that had won three games in total in the previous three seasons. He led the team to five wins in his first season and a school record of nine wins in 1996. Pettine also spent two seasons training at the university level, serving as a defensive undergraduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh in 1993-94.
Pettine began his coaching career as an assistant to his father, Mike Sr., at Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for five seasons (1988-92). Mike Sr., who coached 33 seasons at school, retired after the 1999 campaign as the most winning coach in Pennsylvania high school football history, with a career record of 326-42-4 (0.882). Pettine played for his father and won all state honors as a defender and defender.
Pettine was a letterman for two years as a free guard in Virginia in 1986-87, leading the team with five interceptions in 1986 and tying the record for a single game at the school of choice with three against the state of North Carolina that season. He majored in economics.
In other training news on Wednesday, the Bears promoted Mike Snyder from offensive quality control coach to quality control coach / quarterback assistant and Henry Burris from Bill Walsh Coaching Fellow to offensive quality control coach.