Bears Hire Mike Pettine As Senior Defensive Assistant

CHICAGO (CBS/AP) - The Bears have hired Mike Pettine as a senior defensive assistant to work under new defensive coordinator Sean Desai.

Desai was promoted to replace the retired Chuck Pagano as the Bears' defensive coordinator.

Pettine, the former Cleveland Browns head coach, was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packer for the last three years. He has been a coach in the NFL for 17 years.

Pettine took over in his role for the Packers one year before coach Matt LaFleur's arrival. The Packers announced he would not return after they lost to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC championship game.

The Packers gave up 56 more points during the 2020 regular season than in 2019, but they improved in most other defensive areas.

Green Bay ranked ninth in total defense and tied for 13th in run defense in 2020 after finishing 18th in total defense and 23rd in run defense a year earlier.

The Bears also announced title changes for two offensive assistants.

Mike Snyder will now serve as assistant quarterbacks' coach while remaining in his offensive quality control role. Henry Burris is now an offensive quality control coach after working as a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow last year.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)