Report: Bears part ways with assistant coaches Roy Anderson and Brandon Staley

EDIT: Late Sunday night, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs reported that safeties coach Roy Anderson, who has been with the Bears the last two years, would not be retained by new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. This comes as a bit of a surprise since Anderson previously worked with Pagano in Baltimore and in Indianapolis.

With an opening for safeties coach in Chicago, perhaps Pagano could reach out to his former player, soon to be Hall of Famer Ed Reed. In a recent interview by The Athletic’s Dan Pompei, Reed said he would welcome the opportunity to be an assistant coach in Chicago.

Head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace are scheduled to meet the media at Halas Hall on Monday afternoon, so we may get some of these reports made official.

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A source has also informed the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs that Brandon Staley is out as Chicago Bears’ outside linebackers coach. Staley has spent the the last two years in Chicago working on Vic Fangio’s defensive staff. With Fangio now the head coach in Denver, Staley has a possible quick landing spot. Biggs is reporting that Staley will interview for a position on Fangio’s Broncos’ staff on Monday.

EDIT: Staley was hired by the Denver Broncos.

Biggs’ source also told him that the “rumor” around the league is that Rob Ryan — yes, the son of 1985 Bears’ legend Buddy — is in line to take Staley’s place. Rob coached with new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano for a couple years when Ryan was the defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders, and Pagano their defensive backs coach.

Ryan also has ties to Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace, as the two worked for the New Orleans Saints in 2013 and 2014, with Ryan the defensive coordinator and Pace the director of player personnel.

Bears Pro Bowl defensive lineman Akiem Hicks was coached by Ryan when he played in New Orleans, and Ryan left an impression on him.

Other changes to the Bears’ defensive staff could be coming as defensive backs Ed Donatell, who is out of contract, is reported to be considering leaving for the Broncos. The Bears did interview him for their defensive coordinator position, so logic dictates that they’d like to keep him if he passes on reuniting with Fangio.