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Former Chicago Bears coach suddenly comes out of retirement for 2025

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Jan 28, 2025 11:13 PM ET

A former coach for the Chicago Bears is coming out of retirement to chase another Super Bowl in 2025.

The Bears have been active in the coaching market this offseason. Chicago hired head coach Ben Johnson to replace Matt Eberflus. The Bears now have all three coordinators set with offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, special teams coordinator Richard Hightower and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

Allen, a former head coach for the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints, was arguably Johnson’s best assistant hire this cycle. The Bears have had success with former head coaches at defensive coordinator.

Chuck Pagano is coming out of retirement

One former Bears’ defensive coordinator is re-entering the league with the Baltimore Ravens. Per the Ravens’ website, Chuck Pagano is returning to Baltimore as their senior secondary coach. He coached with Harbaugh in Baltimore from 2008-11.

“It is exciting to add Coach Chuck Pagano to our defensive staff and continue to develop and grow our young and talented secondary,” Harbaugh said, per the statement. “Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and coaching talent to our team. He has deep ties to the program and is excited to get to work.”

Pagano is best known around the league for his time as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The native of Boulder, Colorado, went 53-43 during his time with the Colts and 3-3 in the postseason. Indianapolis made the AFC Championship Game in 2014.

Pagano was the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator from 2019-20

Following his firing from the Colts, the Bears hired Pagano as their defensive coordinator in 2019. The former safety and four-year letterman at Wyoming stayed with Chicago for two seasons before announcing his retirement.

The Bears’ defense gave up the eighth-fewest yards (5,186) and fourth-fewest points (298) in the league in 2019. Pagano’s defense gave up the 11th-fewest yards (5,519) in 2020 and the 14th-fewest points (370) in 2020.

The Bears will play the AFC North in 2025, so Chicago will face their 64-year-old former coach in the fall in a road game at Baltimore.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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