The Chicago Bears made a somewhat dangerous gamble a few months ago. Head coach Matt Nagy needed a new defensive coordinator. Chuck Pagano had chosen to retire after two seasons with the team and some decent success. Up to this point, Nagy had opted to go with experienced coordinators. Unsurprising given how much autonomy they get. This time though he elected to keep a promise he’d made two years ago, promoting safeties coach Sean Desai to the position.
Back in 2019, when Vic Fangio left to take over the Denver Broncos he wanted to bring the young assistant with him. Nagy, sensing the potential Desai had, blocked it. This came with an assurance. If and when the defensive coordinator job became available again, he’d get a proper opportunity to grab it. Sure enough, two years later that opportunity came. Desai seized it and it sounds like the Bears defense couldn’t be happier about that.
Albert Breer of the MMQB painted the picture of their mood.
“The players are over the moon on the promotion of Sean Desai to defensive coordinator. The 38-year-old has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the team, so he’s got standing relationships with much of the locker room, and his energy has rubbed off on the entire group. Also, a return to a pure version of Vic Fangio’s defense, the scheme that made Chicago so fearsome on defense in 2018, has been welcomed by the vets in the room.”
It is hard to miss the influence Desai has already had. The defense is playing with more energy this training camp than it has the past couple of years. He is the one leading the way on that. The 38-year old is everywhere on the field, pumping guys up and jumping around during big plays. He’s also instituted a slight shift in philosophy, constantly urging guys to go for more turnovers. As evidenced by his highly popular turnover bucket.
Early results are promising. Despite an ugly first half from the offense, Desai’s unit held Miami to just 13 points including zero in the second half. They also racked up three sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. This is without any sort of meaningful game planning or scheming. It was mostly based on him coaching the guys up to play hard. They answered his call in every way.
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Sean Desai has big tests ahead of him
The first half of 2021 is a pretty brutal one from the perspective of a defensive coordinator. He’ll have to face off with Sean McVay, Kevin Stefanski, Jon Gruden, and Kyle Shanahan. Some of the best offensive play callers in the NFL. That isn’t including games against Green Bay and Tampa Bay as well who have Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. That is a tall order for any defensive coordinator. Let alone one who enters his first season at the job.
Don’t think Sean Desai is intimidated by that prospect though. This is something he’s been preparing for going back years. The 38-year old has worked his butt off to get this far and he’s not about to throw away this chance now. His attention to detail and ability to motivate figures to serve him well moving forward. Here’s hoping the Bears don’t have to replace him after one year because another team scooped him up for a head coaching job.
With their luck? Nagy better have alternatives on speed dial.
Chicago will play Buffalo this coming weekend. It will be interesting to see how Desai continues to handle his depth chart as competitions reach their apex and starters shuffle in and out of the lineup due to injuries. He’s off to a great start.