Chicago Bears defensive coordinator and previous Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano has decided to resign, league sources told ESPN, affirming different reports.
The Bears are probably going to hold head coach Matt Nagy and general manger Ryan Pace, sources said.
Pagano, 60, spent only two seasons in Chicago following a six-year run as head coach of the Colts. He was recruited by the Bears on Jan. 11, 2019, to supplant designed defensive organizer Vic Fangio, who left to become head coach of the Denver Broncos.
In Pagano’s first season, the Bears’ defense lead the NFC in points permitted per game (18.6) and positioned second in the conference in net yards per game (324.1).
Chicago’s defense again seemed, by all accounts, to be the club’s solidarity in the early parts of the 2020 season, however, the group’s performance leveled off as the year wore on. Chicago finished the regular season 15th in run defense and 11th versus the pass as the Bears (8-9) backed into the playoffs in Week 17.
Chicago was eliminated from the postseason by the New Orleans Saints in a 21-9 misfortune Sunday in the Superdome.
In six seasons as head coach of the Colts, Pagano went 53-43 in the regular season and 3-3 in the playoffs.
The destinies of Nagy and Pace had been dubious after the Bears lost eight of 11 to end the year and completed 1-7 versus playoff teams in 2020.
Nagy – named NFL Coach of the Year in 2018 – has guided the Bears to two postseason berths in the previous three years.
Pace just finished his 6th year as Chicago’s general manager.
