Chicago Bears: Sneaky defensive coordinator candidates to replace Pagano

Chicago Bears defensive coordinator candidate: Aubrey Pleasant

The first candidate the Bears should look at whom isn’t receiving as much chatter at the moment is Los Angeles Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant. Getting past Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in the Wildcard round wasn’t by accident. The Rams’ defense is arguably the number one unit in football.

Pleasant is an enormous reason why, as their secondary is the best in football. Sure, it helps having Jalen Ramsey. But, the Bears already have a great cornerback in Kyle Fuller and their secondary could still use some tweaks. The Rams’ defensive backs play aggressive, and that’s a change which needs to happen in Chicago.

Under Pagano, the Bears’ secondary played soft. They played well off the line of scrimmage and allowed a lot of underneath action. However, we’ve seen how far that’s gotten them. Interceptions are now rare and offenses carve them up and down the field over the middle. It’s time the Bears move on from another “bend, don’t break” type of defense.

Pleasant’s Rams defense finished number one in the NFL in 2020 in yards allowed per game (190.7), yards per attempt allowed (6.2), passing touchdowns allowed (17) and also tied for the fewest 20-plus yard pass plays allowed (36).

The 2020 season was the fourth season in his current position for Pleasant and he would be a breath of fresh air, not only for this secondary but for the defense as a whole. Being part of the Rams’ scheme, he’s seen how they get after the quarterback as well. Anything he brings from Los Angeles’ current operation would be well-appreciated within this unit.