Bears hire former Packers DC Mike Pettine as senior defensive assistant

Former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will be staying in the NFC North. 

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport (h/t Nick Shook) first reported that the Chicago Bears have hired Pettine as a senior defensive assistant who will advise new defensive coordinator Sean Desai. The Bears later confirmed the story. 

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur allowed Pettine's contract to expire and didn't offer the coordinator a new deal following the team's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game. Pettine's defense surrendered four touchdowns in less than two-and-a-half quarters of play to quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay offense with a Super Bowl berth on the line, and Brady's 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Scotty Miller on the last offensive play of the first half helped the Bucs secure the 31-26 victory. 

As Shook wrote for the league's website, LaFleur openly criticized Pettine after that defeat. 

Pettine is an NFL journeyman who held multiple roles with the Baltimore Ravens, served as defensive coordinator with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, and was head coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He first joined the Packers in January 2018.