Joe DeCamillis Will Join Chicago Bears as Special Teams and Assistant Head Coach
Oct 28, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis watches pre-game warmups of the team before the game against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium. The Giants beat the Cowboys 29-24. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Marc Trestman continues to fill out his staff, this time stealing Cowboys special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis to take the same role with the Bears, replacing longtime ST coordinator Dave Toub, who bolts the Bears to join his buddy Andy Reid in Kansas City. Like Toub, DeCamillis was among the candidates who interviewed with the Bears for the head coaching job, but not getting it didn’t deter DeCamillis from taking the job with the Bears. The Cowboys first had to allow him out of his contract, something they hadn’t done in the past when suitors came calling.
Joe D is excited to join the Bears and continue the special teams tradition of excellence:
"“I’m glad to have the opportunity to get there. I think it’s obviously a great situation,” DeCamillis said. “Dave (Toub) has already got the thing going; great tradition there. You’ve got awesome pieces to work with. So I’m excited to get there for sure.”"
DeCamillis is widely regarded as among the best special teams coordinators in the league. Bears punter Adam Podlesh played for him in Jacksonville:
"“He’s the reason Jacksonville drafted me,” Podlesh said. “He came and worked me out coming out of the University of Maryland and I believe he was the driving force behind the Jaguars using a fourth-round pick on me. In my two years with Joe, he was a high-energy guy who always schemes to put his core players in the position to succeed. This is really a good decision by the Bears because Joe is a great guy and a terrific special-teams coach. I think his concepts are going to work with the guys we already have in place. To be honest, I’m a little surprised Dallas let him leave. Joe is going to be a great fit.”"
DeCamillis isn’t ready to run Bears special teams ace Devin Hester out of town just yet.
"“I don’t think there is any question,” DeCamillis said. “We played the Bears that third game and I can tell you, you are scared every time you punt the ball to the guy. So, I definitely think he has a lot of juice left in the tank. He did not look like he slowed down. Sometimes, you’re not getting the ideal kick. Sometimes, there is one block that is missed right at the end or sometimes a guy makes a great play. I still think that guy is an outstanding returner and I am so glad to be working on that side with him rather than the other side. I can tell you that.”"
It should be interesting to see how things materialize under Joe D.