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.