Chuck Pagano Not Interested In HC Jobs
Chuck Pagano had a largely successful run as the head coach of the Colts, but he’s not interested in taking that title again in his career, as ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson writes. The Bears’ new defensive coordinator says he’s excited for his fresh challenge and doesn’t anticipate wanting an HC job after the 2019 season. 
“I’m not. I’ve done it,” Pagano at his introductory presser. “I’m motivated to just help coach Matt Nagy be successful. Help this organization be successful. Help these kids grow and develop. That’s my motivation is to be the best I can be for this organization, for the McCaskey family, for Coach Nagy and for these players and for these coaches and help develop these guys. That’s the only thing I want to do.”
The Bears hired Pagano earlier this month to replace Vic Fangio after he left to become head coach of the Broncos. It’s unquestionably a great opportunity for Pagano as he’ll be handed the keys to one of the league’s most talented defenses. He’ll have a great deal of freedom and creative control too as head coach Matt Nagy puts the bulk of his focus on the offense.
“Our vision for this defense is to be the best,” Pagano said. “Can we be the best in the history of the game? The pieces are there, and they will continue to add pieces. Can we continue to be better than we were last year? Absolutely. It’s going to be very, very difficult and a huge challenge, but one we will be up for.”
For what it’s worth, Pagano interviewed with the Broncos and Packers for their HC openings in this past cycle, so a change of heart may not be out of the question.
Ted Monachino Will Coach Bears OLBs
- The Bears hired former Colts defensive coordinator Ted Monachino last week, and now Chicago has formally announced his title. Monachino will serve as a senior defensive assistant/outside linebackers coach under defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, who previously employed Monachino in both Indianapolis and Baltimore.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/23/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Chicago Bears
- OL Cornelius Lucas
- WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
Bears Add DBs Coach
- The Bears lost defensive backs coach Ed Donatell, who followed Vic Fangio to Denver to become the Broncos’ new defensive coordinator, and now they have a replacement. The team is hiring Deshea Townsend to be their new defensive backs coach, the team announced in a tweet. Townsend spent last year as an assistant DB’s coach with the Giants.
Bears Hire Ted Monachino
The Bears have agreed to hire former Colts defensive coordinator Ted Monachino as a defensive assistant, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times. Monachino served as Indy’s DC from 2016-17 when Chuck Pagano — who’s since been hired as Chicago’s defensive play-caller — was head coach, so the connection makes sense. A former linebackers and defensive line coach in Baltimore and Jacksonville, respectively, Monachino spent the 2018 season as a defensive analyst at the University of Missouri. He’d recently agreed to become the defensive coordinator at Kansas State, but he’ll back out of that commitment to join Pagano and the Bears. While there’s no official word as to what title Monachino will hold in Chicago, he’s likely coming aboard as linebackers coach.
Bears Notes: Parkey, Staff
The Bears intend to bring in competition for much-maligned kicker Cody Parkey, according to general manager Ryan Pace (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune). “We need more production out of that position,” said Pace. “It will be an emphasis of focus for us.” Parkey, of course, had a game-winning kick blocked in the final seconds of Chicago’s Wild Card round loss to the Eagles, but his results during the regular season were also unspectacular. Signed to a four-year, $15MM contract last March, Parkey proceeded to finish third-to-last in the NFL with a 76.7% field goal conversion rate. Football Outsiders‘ special teams metrics, meanwhile, ranked the Bears 29th in field goals and extra points. Chicago, which handed Parkey $9MM in full guarantees, would incur more than $5MM in dead money by cutting the 26-year-old.
- After losing former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to the Broncos, the Bears are overhauling their defensive staff under new play-caller Chuck Pagano. Safeties coach Roy Anderson and linebackers coach Glenn Pires will not be retained, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune and Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter links). Pagano surely wants to formulate his own staff, but Anderson had worked with Pagano in both Baltimore and Indianapolis, so his departure is relatively surprising.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/16/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Chicago Bears
Indianapolis Colts
- S Isaiah Johnson
- CB D.J. Killings
- WR Jordan Veasy
Jacksonville Jaguars
- QB Alex McGough
Los Angeles Chargers
- DE Patrick Afriyie
- LB Tre’Von Johnson
- QB Cardale Jones
- WR Justice Liggins
- TE Vince Mayle
- WR Andre Patton
- DB Arrion Springs
Bears To Exercise Leonard Floyd’s Option
The Bears intend to exercise edge rusher Leonard Floyd‘s 2020 fifth-year option, general manager Ryan Pace recently told reporters, including Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).
While the official figures for 2020 fifth-year options have yet to be revealed, Floyd’s salary should be roughly $13MM. That total will guaranteed for injury only, so if Floyd can’t pass a physical heading into the 2020 campaign, the Bears will be able to release him with no adverse salary cap consequences. NFL clubs have until May 2 to announce their option decisions for their respective 2016 first-round selections.
Floyd, the ninth overall pick in 2016, last year played in all 16 games for the first time in his career. While he managed a career-low four sacks, Floyd ranked 31st among pass rushers with 30.5 quarterback pressures, according to Sports Info Solutions’ charting data. He also put up nine tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and graded as the NFL’s No. 45 edge defender among 105 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Now that he’s completed his third NFL season, Floyd is eligible for a contract extension. But given that they have him under team control through 2020, the Bears figure to be deliberative with any negotiations.
Ed Donatell To Be Named Broncos DC
The Ed Donatell Denver return escalated quickly. The Broncos are naming the Bears’ defensive backs coach as their next defensive coordinator, Mike Klis of 9News reports (on Twitter).
Long rumored to be a candidate to follow Vic Fangio to Denver, Donatell will succeed Joe Woods as the Broncos’ DC. Donatell has twice been a secondary coach with the Broncos, doing so first for five seasons under Mike Shanahan from 1995-99.
Donatell, 61, interviewed for the job on Tuesday and will now be Fangio’s right-hand man running Denver’s defense. Although Fangio will call the Broncos’ defensive plays, Donatell has extensive NFL experience. He is now a four-time DC, last serving in the role for the 2008 Redskins. Donatell left the Broncos in 2000 to become the Packers’ DC, and after a four-year stay in Green Bay, he led three Falcon defenses in the mid-2000s.
He returned to Denver to coach the 2010 Broncos’ secondary, but after Josh McDaniels‘ tenure abruptly ended, Donatell began his eight-year run working with Fangio. Serving under Fangio for four years with the 49ers, Donatell spent the past four seasons in Chicago overseeing the Bears’ secondary — one that featured 2018 Pro Bowlers Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson. The Bears led the NFL in pass-defense DVOA by a wide margin. The Bears wanted Donatell to stay as their DBs coach and work under new DC Chuck Pagano but will now have to replace another key defensive staffer.
The Broncos have regressed from their form under Wade Phillips. They featured what was probably the NFL’s best cornerback trio from 2014-17, with Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby joining Chris Harris. With Talib since traded and Roby a free agent who may well depart Colorado, Harris stands alone. Given his experience leading secondaries, Donatell figures to play a key role in attempting to revitalize the Broncos’ coverage work.
Donatell was the only known candidate to have interviewed for this job.
Bears Wanted Ed Donatell To Stay
- Ed Donatell and the Broncos are close on a deal that would bring the longtime Vic Fangio coworker to Denver as defensive coordinator, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. This deal figures to get done soon, with Mike Klis of 9News suggesting (via Twitter) this could be more of a formality. The Bears are trying to retain Donatell to coach their defensive backs, after giving Chuck Pagano Fangio’s old job, Klis adds. But with Donatell interviewing for a DC role — a job title he has not held in 11 years — with Fangio, it points to the Bears losing another key defensive staffer.