(670 The Score) New Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai has embraced the team's hiring of veteran coach Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant, believing Pettine to be an important addition as Desai navigates through his first year in a new position.
The 54-year-old Pettine was the Packers' defensive coordinator for the past three years, but Green Bay chose to not renew his contract after the season. He'll now report to Desai, 37, as a part of the Bears' new defensive staff.
"It's going to be a resource," Desai said. "I think coach Pett is going to be able to help us on defense and help us on offense from a big-picture perspective. He's going to help us bring in ideas, as our other coaches are going to bring in ideas. This is going to be an open environment.
"If there's things that we can balance each other off of, then I'm all for it. I think that's a great thing for me as a first-time defensive play caller, is to have some other perspectives."
The Bears' senior defensive assistant role was previously occupied by former outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino, who left the organization for the same position with the Falcons. Bears coach Matt Nagy also previously had a senior offensive assistant in Brad Childress, who held that position in 2019.
Desai was promoted to defensive coordinator from his previous position as safeties coach after the retirement of Chuck Pagano. Desai has been with the Bears since 2013, when he was hired by then-coach Marc Trestman as a quality control coach, a position he held through 2018.
Desai takes over a unit that ranked 11th in total defense and 14th in scoring defense in 2020.
"We don't want to look in the rearview mirror at what could've and should've been," Desai said. "We want to look forward and really embrace that as a challenge to be the best defense in the league next year."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
