Bears promote DeFilippo to passing game coordinator, QB coach

John DeFilippo is adding a title to his name.

The Bears quarterback coach also will serve as the team’s passing game coordinator in 2021, the team announced Monday.

DeFilippo enters his second year with the Bears in 2021 and his 16th coaching in the NFL. With former Bears passing game coordinator Dave Ragone heading to the Atlanta Falcons to become their offensive coordinator, the Bears are adding some of Ragone’s duties to DeFilippo’s plate. It could signal that the Bears will not be filling the coaching vacancy left by Ragone.

DeFilippo twice has been an offensive coordinator – with Jacksonville in 2019 and Minnesota in 2018. Prior to that, he was the quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons in 2016 and 2017.

The Bears reportedly have held trade discussions with the Eagles for quarterback Carson Wentz, who DeFilippo coached during his tenure in Philadelphia. Wentz played his best season in 2017, before it was cut short because of a torn ACL. He finished third in MVP voting that year, but hasn’t seen the same level of success since. DeFilippo also worked with current Bears quarterback Nick Foles in Philadelphia.

DeFilippo was brought in to help revamp the Bears offense in 2020, along with offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.