According to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has elected to retire.
With Chicago currently possessing one of the best all-around defenses in the entire NFL, there is no doubt that this vacancy will quickly become quite the coveted role among prospective NFL defensive coordinators.
With Bears general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy expected to remain in place for the 2021-22 campaign, it will be interesting to see who Chicago ultimately chooses to hire in the absence of the aforementioned Pagano.
#Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has decided to retire, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 13, 2021
A football lifer, Chuck Pagano is best known for his stint as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Serving in such a capacity between 2012 and 2017, Pagano was unfortunately forced from the sideline during his initial season with the Colts due to treatment associated with leukemia. However, despite Pagano missing Week 5 through Week 16, he ultimately returned to lead the Colts to an 11-5 regular season record and a spot in the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 5 seed.
One season prior to Pagano taking over in Indianapolis, the Colts notably finished at a disappointing 2-14, which of course coincided with the departure of future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. There was a silver lining not too far behind Manning’s exit from Indianapolis, though, as the 2-14 Colts managed to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft en route to selecting former Stanford Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck.
After a few seasons away from the NFL following his final go-round in Indianapolis, Pagano then signed on to become the Bears’ defensive coordinator in 2019 before eventually retiring on Tuesday.
