Bears Interview Ed Donatell For DC Job, Also Interested In Chuck Pagano

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Bears interviewed DBs coach Ed Donatell for their defensive coordinator vacancy on Thursday.

Biggs mentions that promoting Donatell as Vic Fangio’s replacement would likely be the most seamless transition for Bears HC Matt Nagy, as it would allow the team to keep the language and playbook the same.

According to Biggs, the Bears are also believed to have interest in former Colts HC Chuck Pagano, who has drawn interest from a number of teams up to this point. If the Bears hire an external candidate, Biggs says Pagano could be their No. 1 target.

Chicago is reportedly looking for a quality candidate who runs a 3-4 scheme, but they wouldn’t rule out someone with a 4-3 background.

Donatell, 61, began his coaching career back in 1979 as a graduate assistant at Kent State. He took his first NFL coaching job with the Jets in 1990 when they hired as their secondary coach.

From there, Donatell worked for a number of teams including the Broncos, Packers, Falcons, Jets, and 49ers before the Bears hired him as their DBs coach for the 2015 season.

Pagano, 58, spent a few years as the Ravens’ secondary coach before he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2011. The Colts later hired him as their head coach a year later and he spent six years in Indianapolis before he was fired last year.

Pagano interviewed for the Bronco and Packers head coach jobs, but both teams elected to go in a different direction.

During his six years in Indianapolis, Pagano led the team to a record of 53-43 (55.2 percent) and three playoff appearances including an AFC Championship game appearance in 2014.