The Chicago Bears officially named Dennis Allen as their next defensive coordinator Tuesday. The two-time former head coach is expected to bring his brand of no-nonsense toughness to a Chicago defense that underperformed last year and has struggled to create a constant pass rush. He has thrived as a defensive coordinator in his coaching career, and new offensive-minded Bears head coach Ben Johnson will have to count on him to lead the defense if the team is going to improve next season.
Allen is coming to a team that is flush with talent and potential. The Bears’ defense touts one of the more athletic secondaries and polished linebacking cores in the NFL, along with Montez Sweat, their best defensive player. If he can tighten up the lapses in the secondary and develop the players along the defensive line, this Chicago defense could turn around in one season to become a top-ten unit in the league.
Dennis Allen: New DC of the Chicago Bears
The Bear’s new head coach, Ben Johnson, started filling out his staff Tuesday by signing two-time former head coach Dennis Allen as his defensive coordinator. Allen, who had been fired by the New Orleans Saints midway through last season, has been a defensive coordinator twice in his NFL coaching career and will now take his third job in that position. He was the DC of the Denver Broncos for one season before being named the head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders, and then he was the DC of the New Orleans Saints before being promoted to head coach.
Ben Johnson had high praise for his new defensive coordinator, saying, “As we embark on the next phase of our operation, I am thrilled to welcome Dennis to the Bears… Chicago has a storied history on the defensive side of the ball. Dennis’s experience, leadership, and aptitude for adaptivity will be critical for the development of our players and our team. A great defensive mind with NFL head coach acumen, I look forward to him coordinating our defense and helping lead our team.”
A former player in New Orleans who was there at the same time as Allen and saw how he coordinated the Saints defense offered his take on the Bears’ new defensive coordinator. Deuce McAllister said, “He’s going to work this defense. Practices will be brutal, and he wants them to be in top conditioning. It’s going to be working tirelessly in practice, and the scheme: aggressive.”
New Day in the Windy City
The first big move by Ben Johnson to fill out his staff got people’s attention Tuesday afternoon when the news was announced that the signing was official. In the first head coaching cycle under new front office leadership with GM Ryan Poles and President Kevin Warren, Chicago is more able and willing to shop at the top shelf than in previous searches. In addition to inking Johnson to a contract that pays him $13M per season, bringing on the former Raiders head coach to become the defensive coordinator will place him in the upper echelon of coordinator salaries in the NFL.
Allen comes in with head coaching experience, but both of his stints as the lead man have been unsuccessful. He has performed better as a DC in the NFL with an emphasis on the defensive secondary, which is where he got his start as an NFL coach. For the Bears, Allen will be tasked with leading the defense and maximizing the plentiful talent that litters their secondary. Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, and Kevin Byard have each shown the potential to be a part of one of the NFL’s best defensive backfields, and it will be up to Allen to get them there.
Final Thoughts
This is a great move by Ben Johnson and the Chicago front office. This shows a clear commitment to winning and building a true contender around Caleb Williams. Unsurprisingly, Johnson went for someone with a New Orleans connection to fill the position. The Saints and Sean Payton hired him, so the addition of Allen makes a lot of sense, regardless of his defensive acumen, which is impressive enough to bring him onto the staff.
After the last few seasons, where the defensive coaching responsibilities were muddled by immature 2023 defensive coordinator Alan Williams, former head coach Matt Eberflus, and 2024 defensive coordinator Eric Washington, Dennis Allen brings some credibility to this talented defense. He may have been out over his skis as a head coach in the NFL, but if he is solely going to focus on his side of the football for this Chicago Bears team, they are due for improvement next season.