Jay Rodgers, believed to be a top candidate for the Chicago Bears’ vacant defensive coordinator position, is taking his talents out west.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has the scoop:
Matt Nagy is expected to have more than a D-coordinator to hire. League sources say defensive line coach Jay Rodgers is bound for the #Chargers.https://t.co/URtl9plnqU
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 21, 2021
Rodgers, whose contract with the Bears expires this week, will reunite with new Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley in Los Angeles. The two coached in Chicago under Vic Fangio before Staley followed Fangio to Denver. Rodgers’ role is undefined at this point, but Rodgers could line up to be the Chargers’ defensive coordinator depending on what other hires Staley makes in the coming days and weeks.
Losing Rodgers stinks on multiple levels. Watching a solid defensive coordinator candidate leave the building is a blow. But in addition to that, the Bears will be without a proven talent evaluator and developer at a position group that’s been a strength dating back to John Fox’s tenure. We’ve witnessed Akiem Hicks, Brent Urban, Mitch Unrein, Roy Robertson-Harris, Mario Edwards, Bilal Nichols, Eddie Goldman, and others thrive under Rodgers’ tutelage. So on top of needing a defensive coordinator, Matt Nagy’s coaching staff now needs a top lieutenant on the defensive side of the ball. It’s never easy, eh?
And to think, there could be more hires to make on the horizon. Biggs heard Passing Game Coordinator Dave Ragone and RBs Coach Charles London might be going to the Falcons, who just hired Arthur Smith to be their head coach. So now we’re talking about three assistants and a coordinator the Bears need to bring on board.
Good luck with all that. Certainly some change has been needed, but when it’s because quality minds are getting poached, that’s harder to spin as positive change.