The Chicago Bears have worked hard to overhaul their defensive coaching staff in the past week after a mass exodus over the course of this month. Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano retired. Defensive line coach Jay Rodgers left for L.A. Outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino departed for Atlanta and inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone for Detroit. New coordinator Sean Desai has since replaced Rodgers and DeLeone with Chris Rumph and Bill McGovern. Two highly-experienced and proven assistants. As for the outside linebackers job? That will be staying in-house with Bill Shuey.
Most fans won’t know the name but the man has actually been around since 2018. Chicago hired him that year as a defensive quality control coach and he quietly got promoted to assistant linebackers coach and pass rush analyst last year. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears will promote him to take over the outside linebackers moving forward. His first position job in 10 years.
#Bears promoted Bill Shuey to OLB coach. He was asst LB/pass rush analyst this past season. He's worked with Sean Desai previously and was with the #Eagles for 10 seasons, including 3 as a position coach. So, another spot filled on the defensive staff.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 29, 2021
Shuey has actually gotten a great education on defensive football.
He worked under Jim Johnson and Sean McDermott in Philadelphia. Two men who stand among the most respected defensive coaches in the NFL for their respective times. Shuey seemed to make a positive impression since he lasted 10 seasons there. The last three of them coaching the linebackers from 2008 to 2010. Despite a general lack of talent at that time, his guys did well enough to keep the Eagles defense respectable.
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Maybe the most interesting shift of his career came after he left. After two seasons at West Chester coaching linebackers, he became defensive coordinator for Widener University. Their defense routinely became one of the best in Division III. So the man has a wide range of experience and a solid track record of productivity.
Bill Shuey is ready for the opportunity and deserves it
The interesting part is whether he can handle the transition. When he last coached linebackers in the NFL, it was for a 4-3 defense in Philadelphia. This time he’ll be handling outside linebackers in a 3-4. That comes with different responsibilities and goals. The big question people will have for him is whether he can succeed where Monachino failed in 2020.
Everything next season will hinge on Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. That tandem was supposed to dominate this past season. The name power alone says as much. It didn’t happen. Mack was fine with 9.5 sacks but still below his personal standards. Quinn? He was an outright disaster. After posting 11.5 sacks the year before, the 30-year old managed just two all season. His lowest total in a decade.
If the Bears defense wants to rebound next year, that can’t happen again.
Bill Shuey has a tough task ahead of him. Getting those two back to their customary levels of production is challenging enough given their advancing ages. He’ll also have to take over the development of 5th round pick Trevis Gipson. Somebody the team has high hopes for. Kudos to the team for giving the man the opportunity to prove himself. Promoting from within can often yield positive results.