Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy has more headaches to tackle than just the quarterback problem this offseason. The retirement of defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano is threatening to have a ripple effect across the coaching staff. Specifically in regards to the best assistant coach on the entire team. That being defensive line coach Jay Rodgers.
The 44-year old has been on the team since 2015. During that time he’s done some exemplary work. He helped elevate Akiem Hicks to Pro Bowler status. He molded Eddie Goldman into arguably the best nose tackle in the NFL. Former 5th round pick Bilal Nichols just finished with a career-high five sacks. This in addition to journeyman veterans like Nicholas Williams and Mario Edwards Jr. who have played their best football under his watch.
It appears the Bears are in serious danger of losing him.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rodgers’ contract expires within a week. That means Nagy has a big task ahead of him. He either has to convince Rodgers to sign an extension, promote him to defensive coordinator, or let him walk. An extension seems unlikely at this point. Word is several teams are eyeing him for coordinator jobs.
This means Nagy’s only chance to keep him is by handing the spot vacated by Pagano to Rodgers. The man has never been a defensive coordinator in his career but plenty of people feel this opportunity is long overdue. While mostly known for his defensive line work, he’s also coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at various stops in his career.
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With the retirement of #Bears DC Chuck Pagano, the top internal candidates are D-line coach Jay Rodgers and safeties coach Sean Desai. On Rodgers: His contract expires next week & he’s expected to receive coordinator interest as HC spots around the league are filled.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2021
Chicago Bears haven’t promoted from within in years
The last time they found their defensive coordinator via this route was back in 2010. Bob Babich had struggled for three years at the position. So that year head coach Lovie Smith demoted him to linebackers coach and promoted defensive line coach Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator. It proved to be a fortuitous decision. The Bears went from 17th in 2009 to 9th in 2010. They remained effective for two more seasons after that as well.
So it isn’t like an interior move would be a bad decision for the Bears. Plenty of teams have done it in the past to great success. Rodgers has paid his dues and done great work. If he can work that magic with the defensive line, is it so crazy to think he might be able to do the same for the entire defense? Coach Nagy needs to reach that decision quickly.
If Rodgers is allowed to leave, there are other candidates in consideration.
Safeties coach Sean Desai referenced above. He has a lot of fans in the organization and has routinely been viewed as an eventual head coach down the line. From the outside, the hottest name is James Bettcher. A former defensive coordinator for Arizona and New York, he’s had success running a 3-4 system and is currently a free agent. He also has ties to Nagy through his association with Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers defensive coordinator and Nagy’s longtime friend.
Another name that should be watched is Wade Phillips. The 73-year old is looking to get back into the league after a year off. He’s run a defense in some capacity for 37 years including 20 in the top 10. If Nagy and the Bears are searching for credibility? That is the guy.