After just one day, the Chicago Bears have already found their new defensive coordinator, as former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano has been hired by the team.
Pagano, who coached the Colts for six seasons, will take over for former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who accepted a new job as head coach of the Denver Broncos earlier this week.
“We are excited to add Chuck to our staff as defensive coordinator,” Bears G.M. Ryan Pace said. “He has successful experience at many different levels in this league and he is a great teacher with an aggressive mentality that fits our style of football. He is a man of high character and has a passion for the game that will no doubt add to the culture we have already started building at Halas Hall.”
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Jordan Howard #24 and Kyle Long #75 of the Chicago Bears react to their 15 to 16 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Cody Parkey #1 of the Chicago Bears reacts after missing a field goal attempt in the final moments of their 15 to 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Head coach Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears walks off of the field after their 15 to 16 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Philadelphia Eagles tries to avoid the tackle of Kyle Fuller #23 of the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Brian Urlacher and Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears take the field for their game against the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the Chicago Bears in the first half of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Jordan Howard #24 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the Chicago Bears in the first half of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears calls a play against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Anthony Miller #17 of the Chicago Bears looks on as Cody Parkey #1 sets up for a field goal attempt in the final moments of their 15 to 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Deon Bush #26 of the Chicago Bears walks off of the field after their 15 to 16 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 06: Mitchell Trubisky #10 and Marcus Williams #31 of the Chicago Bears walk off of the field after their 15 to 16 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Pagano led the Colts to a 53-43 record during his tenure, but was fired at the end of the 2017 season.
He will be taking over a Bears defense that was one of the league's best, largely thanks to the efforts of Fangio.
Pagano has served as an NFL coach for several teams, including as a position coach and a defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens before accepting a job as Colts head coach.
The coach became a national inspiration after battling leukemia during the 2012 season. After a leave of absence, he returned to the team for the final game of the regular season, and then coached the team in the NFL playoffs.
