Andrew Buller-Russ
It’s safe to say that the Chicago Bears made the right decisions to hire Ben Johnson as head coach and former head coach Dennis Allen as their defensive coordinator last offseason. That coaching duo led a sharp turnaround, resulting in an 11-6 record and Chicago’s first playoff win since 2010.
Now the Bears’ new-look coaching structure is heading into Year 2 together, and this time, they have an even better handle on things. Whether it’s masking weaknesses or making short-term improvements, the Bears still have room for growth.
One of those areas includes the pass-rusher position, where Chicago ranked in the bottom tier last season with a total of 35 sacks. As the offseason goes on, some Bears rumors have tied the team to signing free agent and potential future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan, who is still unsigned after spending the first 15 years of his career with the New Orleans Saints.
It helps that Allen coached Jordan for the first 10 seasons of his career in New Orleans. Could their relationship grease the wheels for a reunion in the Windy City?
Coach Allen was recently asked about the possibility of the Bears signing Jordan as a free agent. But he made it seem like the Bears’ coaching staff hasn’t spent much time thinking about adding the soon-to-be 37-year-old to their roster.
‘‘I don’t know that there’s been a ton of discussion about [signing him]. We feel pretty good about where we’re at and what we have,” Allen said. “Yet you never know what opportunities might present themselves down the road.’’
While Jordan is not someone who could make a long-term impact on the playing field, he still recorded 10.5 sacks as a member of the Saints last season. That suggests he’d be able to help make an impact in Chicago this season, especially since he’s already very familiar with the Bears’ defensive coordinator.
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