The Chicago Bears hatched a bit of a surprise last month on the rest of the NFL. Their defensive coordinator position is one of the most prestigious in football. Since 2005, it had been held by several quality names including Ron Rivera, Rod Marinelli, and Vic Fangio. With Chuck Pagano retiring, people were anxious to see which direction they’d go for a replacement. Their choice was certainly bold, promoting safeties coach Sean Desai into the position.

While he’d been mentioned as a possible candidate, most people didn’t think he’d actually get the job. Desai had been an assistant for the Bears dating back to 2013. He’d worked under Mel Tucker, then Fangio, and finally Pagano. Slowly working his way up the ranks. Players took to calling him “Doc” because of the doctorate he’d earned in education at Temple. Those close to him laud his intelligence and work ethic.

So what exactly can people expect from his defense?

The young coach spoke to the media for the first time on Monday. Desai came across as somewhat soft-spoken but by no means unsure of himself. He is a man who understands the opportunity he’s been given and has no intention of wasting it. His greatest influence to date was Fangio, whom he viewed as a mentor. Somebody he relentlessly peppered with questions during their time together.

Desai aims to reinsert the Fangio scheme this year. Something they moved away from under Pagano. This will probably make a lot of Bears players happy. However, it doesn’t sound like the new coordinator has any plans to go easy on them. He’s been reported to be a fair but demanding coach. When asked about his expectations for the defense, he laid out four key qualities he’ll be expecting.

Toughness, physicality, intelligence, and speed.

“We are going to be physical, we are going to be tough. We are going to value speed”. – Sean Desai on his defense going into this season. #Bears

— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) February 15, 2021

Sean Desai wants #Bears defensive identity to involve physicality, toughness and swarming to the ball.

— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) February 15, 2021

Coach Desai says defense will be physical and tough and value speed and smarts: "You guys know better than anybody, Chicago’s a great place to play defense."

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 15, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEUZ0lbM2_w&ab_channel=ChicagoBears

Sean Desai knows the expectations and intends to meet them

This is Chicago. A city defined by its defense. Expectations are much higher here than in other places. Desai understands this well. He’s seen both sides of the spectrum. He was there during the dark ages of the Tucker era when they gave up 50+ twice in back-to-back weeks. Then he saw their rise from the ashes to #1 in the NFL back in 2018. Bears fans expect excellence from its defense. Not excuses.

In his mind, Sean Desai doesn’t have to get drastic with change. The Bears have talent. They finished 2020 with the 11th ranked defense despite their star nose tackle opting out and other guys dealing with injuries. They have guys who can still play football at a really high level. It’s a matter of getting them in the right position to “execute” as he put it.

Returning to the Fangio system is already a step in the right direction.

Most of the guys from that amazing 2018 season are still there from Khalil Mack to Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Kyle Fuller, and Eddie Jackson. Returning to something they know so well is bound to yield positive results. It becomes a matter of whether Desai can call games similar to how Fangio did. Maybe an unfair ask but necessary if the Bears are going to compete next season.