Rod Marinelli presided over the No. 1 defense, according to Troy Aikman's Efficiency Rating.
So the now former Bears defensive coordinator is drawing plenty of interest. But he'll likely make a decision quickly, and he's expected to land in Dallas as the team's defensive line coach, a source said.
Why the demotion?
Marinelli doesn't care about titles. Instead, his focus is more on friendship and being around those he cares about and those who care about him. That's why, despite his affinity for Bears players, he simply couldn't remain with a club that fired one of his dearest friends, Lovie Smith, who gave him a job after the debacle in Detroit as the Lions head coach.
Marinelli started with the Bears as a defensive line and assistant head coach, then he worked his way up to defensive coordinator.
Now, he's likely headed to Dallas, where Monte Kiffin -- who he worked with in Tampa -- recently accepted a job as the defensive coordinator. The two are close, and Marinelli will have plenty of input, even though he won't have the title.
This is the best thing and worst thing about Lovie's regime. The good side is he inspired a tremendous amount of loyalty in those who worked for him, and surrounded himself with those he had worked with before and trusted.
The bad side is that when the job wasn't getting done, the only levers he was willing to pull were to get rid of the guys that weren't in his inner circle. Ron Rivera was the first, and every OC he ever hired, because Lovie didn't concern himself with minor issues like scoring points on offense. Guys like Babich and Marinelli were protected when players were not developing, play wasn't improving, and any mistakes they made were swept under the rug.
His players loved him because he stuck with them. But the flip side is we got 4 years of Garrett Wolfe, and kept bringing back Darrell McClover and others that were never going to make the team better, but Lovie had a connection with them that kept them employed.
I really think he would be well suited to the college game, and to teams that need a steadying influence for a few years to transition a young team to a mature team. But once the team has matured together, they need to be pushed, and Lovie always pushed the same way.
Marinelli never really wanted to be the defensive coordinator, but he did it for Lovie. He is a lot more comfortable just doing his job as a DL coach. I think he learned that after his time in Detroit. Since Lovie appears to not be getting a job this year (don't count him out as a LB or DB coach in Dallas now with Kiffin), Marinelli found the only other person he was loyal to in the league, the guy who launched his career as a DL coach.
The thought of converting Ware to a DE after this many years is interesting, but I don't think that's why Rod went there.
Very interesting, very, very, interesting Joe. Just two things though. Lovie is going to sit this year out since nobody wants him as a head coach and to collect that million dollar check from the Bears. Nobody will give him 5 mil. to be a LB coach. 5 mil thrown to the wind, thanks to Angelo and Philips.
But none of that matters, because the Drake is gone Joe. The evil has left Halas hall. It is a day for celebration.
Now is Babs still working for the Bears? And if so why? Evil be gone! Evil be gone! I cast you out! The power of Halas Compels you! The power of Halas compels you!