(670 The Score) New Bears head coach Ben Johnson was drawn to hire new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in large part because of the respect he has for Allen’s defensive schemes. That respect is mutual.
Allen, 52, has been on the other side of the chess board against the 38-year-old Johnson and his bright offensive mind. It’s part of why Allen saw appeal in joining Johnson’s coaching staff in Chicago.
“Look, just facing the offense, the creativity of the offense, the way that he’s able to utilize all of his assets and get him in the best position to have success, I was always really intrigued with how he was able to do that,” Allen said. “In terms of the guy, I knew that he was going to be a grinder, a hard worker, tireless, and I knew that he had a clear vision of what he wanted this team to look like. And I think that aligns with kind of what I think we should be, how this team should be and in particular how I want this defense to be.”
Allen was the Saints’ head coach for the past three seasons before being fired in early November. After his dismissal, he spent the ensuing weeks enjoying time with his family while preparing for a new opportunity. Johnson then reached out in early January to get a sense of Allen’s interest in joining his staff as defensive coordinator – no matter where he landed as a head coach.
Johnson and Allen have never worked together in the past but have mutual connections through Lions head coach Dan Campbell and new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. Above all, Johnson was intrigued by how Allen could lead his defense.
"We faced that defense a year ago when he was in New Orleans and gained a lot of respect for it," Johnson said. "I think everywhere he has been along the way, they have been a top third-down team, a top red-zone team. So, there are a lot of pillars about what he does schematically that would be appealing to me."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.