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NFL coaching carousel: The 5 best hires of the offseason

By Erik Lambert

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 17: Mike Munchak, offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, looks on during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on November 17, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 27-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 17: Mike Munchak, offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, looks on during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on November 17, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 27-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 03: Head coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts waits on the field prior to the start of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on December 3, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 03: Head coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts waits on the field prior to the start of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on December 3, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) /

Chuck Pagano as Chicago Bears defensive coordinator

Replacing Vic Fangio was going to be a monumental task for the Bears. Everybody saw what happened when the San Francisco 49ers tried to do it back in 2015. Players retired en masse and the units tanked to 29th in the NFL. Head coach Matt Nagy knew he had to get somebody with a proven track record and credibility in order to keep a good thing going. Initially, the thought was to promote Ed Donatell, Fangio’s right-hand man. That quickly got pushed aside.

Instead the Bears opted to bring in former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. Not only was this a favorable locker room move since the man has a sterling reputation for motivating players. It was also a solid football one. Pagano is known for being a defensive backs specialist who understands how to confuse and frustrate quarterbacks. His lone year as a coordinator in 2011, the Ravens were the #3 defense in football and reached the AFC championship.

In terms of prestige, it was about as good a move as they could make.

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