Chuck Pagano, a longtime NFL coach who spent the final two seasons because the Chicago Bears‘ defensive coordinator, is retiring, in accordance with NFL Community’s Mike Garofolo and Ian Rapoport. 

Pagano, 60, presided over a Bears protection that completed eleventh and eighth in yards allowed throughout his two seasons with the staff, respectively. In 2020, Chicago’s protection completed 14th within the NFL in scoring, twelfth in passing, fifteenth in speeding, eighth in third down effectivity and fifth in purple zone effectivity. The Bears protection was led by linebackers Khalil Mack (9 sacks, three pressured fumbles, two fumble recoveries), Roquan Smith (139 tackles, 4 sacks, two interceptions), Danny Trevathan (113 tackles) and security Eddie Jackson (82 tackles, three pressured fumbles). The Bears went 8-8 throughout the common season earlier than falling to the New Orleans Saints within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs. 

Pagano started his teaching profession as a graduate assistant with USC in 1984. After 18 seasons within the school ranks (together with a profitable six-year run because the Miami Hurricanes’ secondary coach), Pagano broke into the NFL in 2001 because the Cleveland Browns‘ secondary coach, a place he held for 4 years. 

After time in Oakland and North Carolina, Pagano spent three years because the Baltimore Ravens‘ secondary coach earlier than spending the 2011 season as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. In 2012, Pagano was employed because the Indianapolis Colts‘ coach, a place he held by means of the 2017 season. Throughout his first seasons in Indianapolis, Pagano guided to the Colts to 3 playoff appearances and a visit to the AFC title recreation in 2014. 

The Bears will now start the method of discovering Pagano’s successor. Raheem Morris is among the many doable candidates — he served because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ head coach throughout the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Morris, who served because the Atlanta Falcons‘ defensive coordinator final season, went 4-7 as Atlanta’s interim coach after Dan Quinn was fired following an 0-5 begin.