Bears fans might be sitting idly while other teams around the NFL hire new head coaches, but it’s not as if Chicago’s football team won’t be impacted by changes that happen around the league.
For instance, the Falcons have hired Arthur Smith to be their new head coach. Smith’s hiring in Atlanta could lead to him poaching Chicago’s coaching staff:
The #Falcons have interviewed #Panthers WRs coach
Frisman Jackson for their OC job under Arthur Smith, source said. Frisman, who also interviewed for Carolina’s QBs coach job, joins #Bears passing game coordinator Dave Ragone as top OC candidates in ATL.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2021
One name strongly connected to Arthur Smith's staff as he takes the Atlanta Falcons job: Bears passing game coordinator Dave Ragone. I'm told there's a good chance he becomes Smith's OC after five years in Chicago.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 15, 2021
As first noted yesterday, look for Dave Ragone (Bears passing game coordinator) to potentially join his staff as highest ranking offensive coach (as OC or passing game coordinator).
I'm told, however, Smith is planning on calling the plays. https://t.co/2Pp3SIq9Ja
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) January 15, 2021
Reports and corroboration have emerged tagging Bears Passing Game Coordinator Dave Ragone as a candidate to join Smith in Atlanta. Ragone isn’t the only interested party. Panthers Receivers Coach Frisman Jackson has reportedly completed an interview to join the Falcons’ staff. Even still … the general vibe is that Ragone and Smith reunion will happen in Atlanta.
Smith and Ragone coached together while both were in Tennessee from 2011-13. Ragone was the Titans’ WRs Coach (2011-12) and QBs Coach (2013), while Smith served as Defensive Quality Control (2011), Offensive Quality Control (2012), and Offensive Line Assistant/Assistant TEs (2013) in that span. And as is often the case, new head coaches like bringing coaches they are familiar with to their new teams. And as far as I’m concerned, the Falcons provide a unique fit for Ragone’s next coaching spot (if that’s what it comes to).
Ragone, 41, has been coaching with the Bears since 2016 when he was the team’s QBs coach. After serving in that capacity through 2019, Ragone became the Passing Game Coordinator. This move prompted the Bears to bring on John DeFilippo to coach quarterbacks. Ragone’s contract status is unknown, but I don’t imagine Chicago would block an opportunity for him to move into the coordinator ranks elsewhere.