Here’s what Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can do for Ben Johnson

From pretty much the moment the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach, veteran coach Dennis Allen was linked to Johnson as a possible defensive coordinator.

The Bears made it official this week, hiring Allen as the DC and 28-year-old Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator. The Bears also retained special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, who ran the special teams units for former coach Matt Eberflus.

Allen most recently served as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans fired him midway through the season Nov. 4. Speaking from Halas Hall this week, Allen said he took it as an opportunity to spend time with family and step away from football for a little while. He was home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, a rarity for NFL coaches. He made sure to take his family on vacation, too.

It was toward the end of the season when Johnson called Allen. The then-Lions defensive coordinator was expected to be a top head coaching candidate. Johnson asked Allen if he would be interested in a defensive coordinator position, and Allen most certainly was.

The pair had never worked together, but they have a number of mutual connections, including Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, both of whom spent time coaching with Allen in New Orleans.

“I just feel like I had connections to Ben, although I didn’t really know him,” Allen said. “I just think him leaning on those guys in reference to me and me leaning on those guys in reference to him, I think we both felt like it was a really good fit.”

Allen will bring a ton of experience to the coaching staff. He was twice a head coach (the Raiders from 2012-14; the Saints from 2022-24). In between, he spent seven years as the defensive coordinator for Sean Payton in New Orleans.

For a first-time head coach like Johnson, having someone who has been in his shoes will be a huge help.

“Anything that I can do to help him, just from my own personal experience and what I went through as a first-time head coach, a second-time head coach,” Allen said. “You know, the challenges are there on a daily basis as a head coach. So [it’s] being able to deal with those as they come along.”

During his introductory news conference last week, Johnson noted that there was “no question” he wanted experienced coaches on his staff.

“I really believe that we’re going to be able to find some great candidates out there that want to come to Chicago for a number of reasons, but they will be able to help guide and show me the way,” Johnson said then.

Allen is one such coach.

While Allen’s experience is an asset, the 52-year-old coach already has had two shots at being a head coach in the league. His 26-53 record as a head coach probably isn’t going to land him a head coaching gig anytime soon.

Asked if he wants to be a head coach again, Allen said he’s solely focused on his role as Bears defensive coordinator.

Johnson can rest easy knowing that his defense is in good hands. Allen has traditionally run a 4-3 base defense, which is what the Bears ran under Eberflus. The defensive roster, which is far from a finished product, is positioned well to run Allen’s scheme.

Like Johnson a week ago, Allen named nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon as a player he’s excited to work with.

We’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to challenge everything, we’re going play the game the right way."

—  Dennis Allen, Bears defensive coordinator

“We’ve got some size and length at the corner position,” Allen said. “I like the fact they have some man coverage ability. I think we’ve got some versatility at the safety position. I see the fit. Kyler Gordon, I think, is an outstanding nickel player. I have a vision for how we can utilize him. I think the foundation for what we want to do is there.”

Allen will begin working immediately to find ways to make the Bears' defense better. The Bears were off to a strong start the first six weeks of the season.

But the Hail Mary loss in Washington in October sent the team spiraling. A week later, defensive tackle Andrew Billings went down with a season-ending pectoral injury, and the defensive line was never quite the same.

Still, this defense has some talented pieces: cornerback Jaylon Johnson, defensive end Montez Sweat and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to name a few. It will be Allen’s job to get them to jell.

“We’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to challenge everything, we’re going play the game the right way,” Allen said.