Mike Pettine wasn’t out of a job for long.
The previous Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator has been recruited as a senior defensive assistant for the Chicago Bears, an opponent of his past team in the NFC North.
Pettine served three years (2018-20) as the Packers defensive coordinator. His agreement lapsed after the 2020 season and wasn’t renewed. The Packers recently reported Joe Barry as his substitution.
In Chicago, Pettine will work under new Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai, who was elevated from safeties coach to coordinator after Chuck Pagano resigned following the 2020 season.
Under Pettine last season, the Packers defense ranked ninth in yards permitted, 13th in points permitted and 25th in takeaways. They were 18thin yards, ninth in points and 7th in takeaways in 2019.
The Packers were 5-1 against the Bears during Pettine’s residency as defensive coordinator, including four straight successes between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Pettine’s defense surrendered only 57 points to the Bears over the last two seasons, with nine takeaways in the four games.
The Bears defense surrendered 76 points to the division champion Packers more than two games in 2020.