Aug 24, 2020; Milwaukee, WI, USA;   Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is shown Monday, August 24, 2020 during the team's training camp in Green Bay, Wis.  Mandatory Credit:  Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK

News Articles

Bears add ex-Packers DC Mike Pettine to coaching staff

Nearly two weeks after being allowed to depart the Green Bay Packers as defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine will remain in the NFC North after being hired by the Chicago Bears Wednesday as a senior defensive assistant.

The Bears announced the move to add the experienced voice in Pettine, a former defensive coordinator with three teams, to the defensive staff under new coordinator Sean Desai. The 37-year-old Desai has never been a defensive coordinator in his coaching career.

Pettine, 54, spent the past three seasons in charge of the Green Bay defense. Technically, Pettine was not fired after this past season, but his contract was expiring and the team decided to let him leave the organization in the aftermath of the NFC Championship game loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 24.

This past season with Green Bay, Pettine’s defense ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in both total defense (ninth, 334.0 total yards allowed per game) and pass defense (seventh, 221.2 pass yards allowed per game). But he took public criticism from Packers head coach Matt LaFleur for calling man coverage late in the first half in the Tampa Bay loss, resulting in a touchdown pass shortly before halftime in a 31-26 defeat.

In addition to serving as defensive coordinator for the New York Jets (2009-12), Buffalo Bills (2013) and Packers (2018-20), Pettine was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns for two seasons in 2014-15. The Browns were 10-22 under his watch.

–Field Level Media

Field Level Media
Sport Writer & Editor
FLM has a North American focus while tying into regional and hyper-local resources – providing the ability to distribute compelling content through the writing of professional journalists. As the U.S. sports content provider to dozens of digital and print media publishers through strategic partnerships with the likes of Reuters and Nielsen Sports, FLM covers the nuts and bolts with a breaking news desk and game event coverage.

Sportsbooks

Rated 5/5

Rated 5/5

Rated 5/5

Upcoming Games