Bears DC Chuck Pagano Expected to Retire

Chuck Pagano with the Colts. Photo by Trask Smith/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (9190068x)

The Chicago Bears will enter the 2021 NFL season with a new defensive coordinator after Chuck Pagano has now decided to retire.

Pagano spent two seasons with the Bears, taking the DC position in 2019 following the departure of Vic Fangio. The Bears allowed 20.9 points per game under Pagano, which ranks sixth-fewest in NFL during that period.

Chuck Pagano previously worked as defensive coordinator with Baltimore Ravens and was a head coach for the Indianapolis Colts between 2012 and 2017. He made the playoffs with Colts in three of his six seasons, with his biggest success coming in 2014 when Indy reached the AFC Championship Game.

Pagano’s departure will surprisingly be the only major change in the Bears’ coaching staff. According to multiple sources, Chicago is expected to keep head coach Matt Nagy despite the team’s unconvincing performances in the past two years. General manager Ryan Pace is also expected to return for 2021.

The Bears surprisingly made the playoffs in 2020 after finishing the regular season with an 8-8 record. They ended their run in the wild card round, suffering a 21-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

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