(670 The Score) The Bears have lost another assistant coach, with inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone agreeing to take the same position with the Lions, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.
DeLeone will join a Lions staff formed by newly hired coach Dan Campbell. DeLeone had been with the Bears since 2019 and notably oversaw the development of star inside linebacker Roquan Smith while in Chicago.
The Bears hired DeLeone from the Chiefs' coaching staff, bringing in an assistant whom coach Matt Nagy had overlapped with in Kansas City.
DeLeone's departure leaves the Bears with just one position coach on the defensive staff in his same role as in 2020: secondary coach Deshea Townsend. Defensive line coach Jay Rodgers is expected to take a job with the Chargers, while outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino was hired to the same position on the Falcons' new staff. Last Friday, the Bears promoted safeties coach Sean Desai to be their new defensive coordinator following Chuck Pagano's retirement.
Nagy also has to hire a running backs coach after losing Charles London to the Falcons as their new quarterbacks coach. It's unclear whether the Bears will hire a new passing game coordinator after Dave Ragone was hired as Atlanta's new offensive coordinator.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
