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Yesterday the Chicago Bears hired special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers. Earlier today they filled another coordinator position by hiring defensive mastermind Vic Fangio.
With these two on board, that meant that two of the most notorious coaches in recent Bears memory were no longer needed.
Adam Jahns of the Sun Times is reporting that former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and former special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis were informed that they had no place with the new coaching regime when Marc Trestman was fired on Black Monday.
Jahns is also reporting that in addition to Tucker and DeCamillis, linebackers coach Reggie Herring, tight ends coach Bischoff and special teams assistant Dwyane Stuke were also released.
In other possible assistant coaching moves, Ian Rapoport Tweeted the following.
Former #49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell is expected to join new #Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in Chicago, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2015
If Donatell is hired, that could mean that long time Chicago defensive backs coach Jon Hoke, is also out. Hoke was Fangio's DB coach for the Houston Texans from 2002 to 2005.
Another current assistant that has ties to John Fox and his new staff is Defensive Quality Control Coach Chris Harris, who played for Fox in Carolina from 2007 to 2009.
If the Bears were planning to raid Fox's former team, the Denver Broncos, for assistants, they just took four off the market. New Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak will retain wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert, running backs coach Eric Studesville and strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson and he will move tight ends coach Clancy Barone to the offensive line. This means, for now at least, that Fox's quarterback coach in Denver, Greg Knapp, who has offensive coordinator experience, is still available. Also available, now with Greg Olsen taking the Jacksonville job, is former Bronco offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
In case you missed it, the Baltimore Ravens hired Marc Trestman as their new offensive coordinator, so that's another OC job off the market.
The Bears, along with the Rams and the 49ers, all have requests in to interview Indianapolis Colts special assistant Rob Chudzinski for their open offensive coordinator positions.
Sometimes news breaks in unexpected places. Yesterday I came across this tweet from Damon Magazu.
Next time I see the fam it won't be in Denver...what's gooooood Chicago! Pops to DaBears!
— Damon Magazu (@swagazu11) January 18, 2015
Damon Magazu played safety for East Carolina and he graduated in 2014, but the Pops he speaks of in the above tweet is long time NFL assistant coach Dave Magazu. The elder Magazu's last job was as offensive line coach in Denver and it would appear he's heading to Chicago to join head coach John Fox's staff.
Once we have confirmation on any more Bears' hires we'll be sure to pass along the info.
What are your thoughts so far?