What the Bears are getting in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen

The Chicago Bears found their new defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen, who most recently served as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints (2022-24) before being fired midseason last year.

Allen boasts 30 years of coaching experience between the NFL and the collegiate levels. He got his NFL start with the Atlanta Falcons as a defensive quality control coordinator (2002-03) and later a defensive assistant (2004-05). He also spent time with the Saints as an assistant defensive line coach (2006-07) and secondary coach (2008-10), which included winning a Super Bowl championship with New Orleans.

Allen then joined the Denver Broncos as defensive coordinator in 2011 before nabbing his first head coach job with the Oakland Raiders (2012-14). After he was fired, Allen landed back with the Saints as a senior defensive assistant (2015) and then defensive coordinator (2015-21) before being promoted to head coach in 2022. Allen was fired on Nov. 4, 2024.

But what are the Bears getting in former head coach and veteran defensive coordinator Allen?

We spoke to John Sigler of Saints Wire, who gave us the rundown on what we can expect from the Bears' new defensive coordinator and why he could be a good fit for Chicago.

1. What kind of coach are the Bears getting in Allen?

Allen is a meticulous defensive coach with a background working in the secondary. Expect him to be very hands-on with the defensive backs and coach them up to their strengths. His biggest shortcoming as head coach came when he couldn't devote as much time to the position groups he knew best. He can struggle to rein in big personalities (look at C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Marshon Lattimore, and Michael Thomas) but he knows ball.

2. What are Allen's biggest strengths as a defensive coordinator?

Allen does an outstanding job making in-game adjustments. He isn't afraid to shift to a different front if they're getting pushed off the line of scrimmage, or to dial up blitzes if the pass rush isn't getting home early on. And he has a real eye for talent at cornerback. He did an excellent job scouting, drafting, and developing DB's over the years in New Orleans.

3. Where has Allen struggled as a DC in the past?

So the big problem has been how Allen manages the defensive line. He values oversized defensive ends in the 280-pound range for their ability to stop the run but still gets gashed on the ground. His units never did a great job pressuring quarterbacks without help and he's averse to playing lightweight pass-rush specialists because they can be a liability in run defense. He also dislikes playing rookies and younger players to an extreme. Guys like Alontae Taylor and Zack Baun were stuck on special teams until injuries forced them into the lineup.

4. What impact did Allen have on the defense during his time with the Saints?

For all his faults Allen did build a really impressive defense that played with a consistency that's rare to find in today's game. He handpicked almost all of the players who are on the depth chart to this day. For a while there his defense was more reliable in the playoffs than Sean Payton's offense, and you can understand why the Saints thought Allen could keep those good times rolling when Payton quit on them. He and his scheme aren't perfect, but nobody is, and he left big shoes to fill on his side of the ball.

5. Why do you think Allen could be a good fit for the Bears?

Allen is a great defensive play caller and he's going to give any an edge when he's working in that role. He knows when to blitz and how to slow down high-powered offenses like the Bears compete against in the NFC North. He could be a great influence on guys like Terell Smith who have played well on limited reps. Most importantly, his presence allows Ben Johnson to focus on coaching up Caleb Williams and installing his offense. As a former head coach Allen should be an excellent resource for Johnson to draw from as he navigates his new post.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: What the Bears are getting in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen