Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bears continue to their extreme makeover as John Fox fills out his coaching staff. This morning, we got word that Vic Fangio had been hired as defensive coordinator. That paved the way to officially part ways with Mel Tucker, arguably the worst defensive coordinator in Chicago Bears history.
Former assistant head coach Joe DeCamillis was also officially let go, as he hooked on with the Broncos. Other assistants who were let go include tight ends coach Andy Bischoff, linebackers coach Reggie Herring and assistant special teams coach Dwayne Stukes.
It’s interesting that defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni was not listed as the coaches who were let go. It will be interesting if Fangio keeps on Pasqualoni, who had a good reputation before joining the Bears in 2014.
New coaches joining the Bears include Sam Garnes as the assistant defensive backs coach, Dave Magazu to be the offensive line coach and Derius Swinton II as assistant special teams coach under newly hired special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers. Not surprisingly, all of the assistants have strong ties to John Fox going back to Denver and Carolina.
Same Garnes spent the last four seasons in Denver as the assistant DB’s coach working for Fox. Hopefully he former NFL safety can impart some of his NFL experience and knowledge to a Bears secondary in desperate need of assistance. It’s expected that Garnes will be working with Ed Donatell, who’s expected to follow Vic Fangio to Chicago.
Dave Magazu has a wealth of NFL coaching experience including 12 years working with John Fox. Magazu’s offensive lines only gave up 100 sacks over the last four seasons, fewest in the NFL. Depending on who comes in as offensive coordinator, you can expect to see a zone blocking scheme to be coming to the Chicago Bears.
Derius Swinton has six years NFL experience coaching special teams, including the last two as Denver’s assistant special teams coach. The Hampton University safety (2003-2006) has worked his way through the coaching ranks over the last several seasons. He spent a couple of seasons with the Rams and the Chiefs as a special teams quality control assistant. Swinton served as the Broncos assistant special teams coach the last couple of seasons under Fox and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers.