Changes among the Chicago Bears’ defensive coaching staff are starting to trickle through:
The #Broncos have made another coaching move, hiring former #Bears assistant Brandon Staley as their new outside LBs coach, source said. He’ll have a few players to work with. Obviously, a lot of familiarity with Vic Fangio.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2019
Add another one: I'm told LBs coach Glenn Pires will not return. https://t.co/dxHkcLgYES
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) January 15, 2019
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports the Denver Broncos have hired ex-Bears Brandon Staley to coach the team’s outside linebackers. Also, league insider Adam Caplan tweets that Linebackers Coach Glenn Pires will not be back with the team.
Staley follows Broncos Head Coach Vic Fangio out of town after holding that position the last two seasons. That means Staley will go from coaching All-Pro pass-rusher Khalil Mack and 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd to getting his hands on All-Pro pass-rusher Von Miller and 2018 first-round stud Bradley Chubb. That’s not a bad career move if it comes your way.
And look at it this way, at least he isn’t going to the Packers:
I'm told the #Packers also put in a slip to interview Brandon Staley, but the #Bears blocked it. Instead follows Fangio out of the division. https://t.co/Tane84LKNY
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 15, 2019
Pires’ next stop is still to be decided, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he jumps ship to Denver, too. Prior to joining John Fox’s staff in 2015, Pires coached linebackers for the Falcons (2008-14), Dolphins (2003-07), Lions (2001-02), and Cardinals (1996-2000). With that type of experience under his belt, Pires should have no shortage of suitors.
With Staley and Pires on their way out, Chuck Pagano’s staff is going to be in the market for new linebackers coaches. Rob Ryan and Ted Monachino have been rumored candidates who could be on the Bears’ radar and both have experience coaching linebackers. Well, isn’t that fitting!?
Coaching Chicago’s linebackers should entice some top tier candidates. Because between the pass-rushing excellence of Mack, Floyd’s upside, Roquan Smith’s potential, and Danny Trevathan’s veteran presence should be enough to put some interesting coaches on their radar.