The Chicago Bears promoted Sean Desai to defensive coordinator on Friday. A bold move for them and a great opportunity for the longtime team assistant. It seems the man isn’t going to waste time reshuffling the staff either. With already the defensive line coach spot needing to be filled, Desai will add outside linebackers coach to the agenda as well.
Ted Monachino was hired in that spot by Chuck Pagano in 2019. Since then the man hasn’t exactly done a stellar job maximizing his talent. Khalil Mack had just 8.5 sacks and 9.5 sacks in their two years together. Leonard Floyd had just three sacks in 2019 and Robert Quinn just two this season. There wasn’t much of an argument that could be made for retaining the man. Now according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, he’s out.
Chicago will be looking for a new face to fill that position.
The #Bears coaching staff remains a work in progress and another assistant is not expected to return – OLB coach Ted Monachino.https://t.co/9dYc4pokET
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 23, 2021
Biggs stated that assistant outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey will be one option they look at. He has experience running a linebackers room, having done it for three years in Philadelphia from 2008 to 2010. However, he may not be the only one. It’s worth noting the Bears also reached out and spoke to Mike Singletary about the defensive coordinator job recently.
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While that position went to Desai, the Bears legend has extensive experience coaching linebackers. He did it for two years in Baltimore in 2003 and 2004, then for four years in San Francisco from 2005 to 2008. After leaving the 49ers, he took over the Minnesota Vikings linebackers from 2011 to 2013. He tended to have a lot of success at it too.
Chicago Bears should have no problem find suitors
Their outside linebackers group is a pretty talented bunch. Mack is still one of the best defenders in the NFL. Quinn is talented and experienced. He should be able to rebound next season. Former 5th round pick Trevis Gipson also has plenty of unexplored talent. Maximizing that group could do a position coach plenty of favors in terms of opportunities around the league.
There are some other names out there Desai and the Chicago Bears should at least look into. One of them being Chris Shula, currently outside linebackers coach for the Rams. He did outstanding work with Floyd this past season, getting 10.5 sacks from the former 1st round pick. With Raheem Morris arriving as the new defensive coordinator, it’s possible Shula might be available.
There is no shortage of possibilities. Desai isn’t the sort who’d settle for a buddy.
He’s smart enough to know that he has to find the best possible coach for this job. Outside linebackers are a vital component of a 3-4 defense. When they play well, the entire scheme benefits. This is why the Bears struggled to stop teams so often down the stretch. It’ll be interesting to see if they go with an outside candidate. It would be a sign that their new coordinator isn’t afraid to branch out and take some risks. Similar to what Fangio did when he first arrived back in 2015.