NEWSLETTER
Ted Monachino was expected to leave his post as the defensive coordinator of Kansas State University’s football team to join the Chicago Bears, but his role and responsibilities after making the jump from colleges to the pros had yet to be determined.
Today, Monachino officially has a new home on Chuck Pagano’s coaching staff.
#Bears Coaching Update: We have hired Ted Monachino as Senior Defensive Assistant & Outside Linebackers Coach. Welcome to Chicago, Ted! pic.twitter.com/4xkg8MuzzR
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) January 21, 2019
The Bears announced the hiring of Monachino as a Senior Defensive Assistant and Outside Linebackers Coach. It’s a fancy title to be sure, but a welcome addition to Chicago’s defensive coaching staff. Monachino replaces Brandon Staley, who followed Vic Fangio to Denver and will coach the Broncos’ outside linebackers. Much like Staley’s situation going to Denver to coach Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, Monachino walks into a wonderful situation where he’ll get an opportunity to get his hands on Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd. It’s good work if you can get it.
Rob Ryan popped up as a rumored candidate early in the process, but that was the extent of the chatter surrounding the son of legendary Bears coach Buddy Ryan and an opportunity coaching in Chicago.
As for the guy who ultimately was given the job, Monachino has a history with the Bears’ new defensive coordinator. Monachino coached alongside Pagano in Baltimore and served as his DC in Indianapolis. He also has a lengthy coaching history that includes a winding road through the college football landscape (TCU, James Madison, Missouri State, Boise State, Arizona State) and even a brief stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s an extensive résumé for a coach with an important role as an assistant.
The Bears still have positions to fill at Linebackers Coach and Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, so Pagano and the powers that be still have work to do from a hiring front. But Monachino fills one available spot and gets Chicago one step closer to having a fully operational defensive coaching staff.
