After winning the multi-team competition for Ben Johnson‘s services, the Bears are moving quickly to fill their new head coach’s staff.
Upon hiring Johnson, the Bears quickly became connected to having Dennis Allen as their lead defensive coordinator candidate. Allen’s interim successor in New Orleans, Darren Rizzi, is drawing interest from the Bears as well. Rizzi is drawing interest from the Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds six teams are believed to be in pursuit of the veteran special teams coordinator.
Chicago is one of several teams pursuing Rizzi this offseason. The Saints and the Jets interviewed him for their head coach vacancies, while others, like the Bears, would hire him as their special teams coordinator.
Rizzi was hired as the Saints’ special teams coordinator in 2019 under Sean Payton and added assistant head coach to his title when Allen replaced Payton in 2022. When the Saints’ ownership fired Allen after a frustrating 2-7 start to the season, they tapped Rizzi to close out the year. He won three of his first four games as head coach before dropping four straight to finish the season.
The 54-year-old is not seen as a top candidate to stick around in New Orleans or fill the vacancy in New York, but he will almost certainly be a special teams coordinator somewhere next offseason. Outside of this past season, the Saints have finished with a top-eight special teams grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) every year since Rizzi joined the staff.
While he may be able to choose from a few offers, the job in Chicago has obvious appeal. Rizzi can reunite with Allen under an exciting, young coach in Johnson, all while working for one of the most storied franchises in league history.