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Nearly two weeks
after being allowed to depart the Green Bay Packers as defensive
coordinator, Mike Pettine will remain in the NFC North after
being hired by the Chicago Bears Wednesday as a senior defensive
assistant.
The Bears announced the move to add the experienced voice in
Pettine, a former defensive coordinator with three teams, to the
defensive staff under new coordinator Sean Desai. The
37-year-old Desai has never been a defensive coordinator in his
coaching career.
Pettine, 54, spent the past three seasons in charge of the Green
Bay defense. Technically, Pettine was not fired after this past
season, but his contract was expiring and the team decided to
let him leave the organization in the aftermath of the NFC
Championship game loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 24.
This past season with Green Bay, Pettine's defense ranked in the
NFL's top 10 in both total defense (ninth, 334.0 total yards
allowed per game) and pass defense (seventh, 221.2 pass yards
allowed per game). But he took public criticism from Packers
head coach Matt LaFleur for calling man coverage late in the
first half in the Tampa Bay loss, resulting in a touchdown pass
shortly before halftime in a 31-26 defeat.
In addition to serving as defensive coordinator for the New York
Jets (2009-12), Buffalo Bills (2013) and Packers (2018-20),
Pettine was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns for two
seasons in 2014-15. The Browns were 10-22 under his watch.
(Field Level Media)
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