NFL Sees This Change To Bears Coaching Staff as a Clear Upgrade

Matt Nagy has stayed true to his belief that assistant coach Dave Ragone is a rising star who has a bright future. Yet his actions seem to say otherwise. The Chicago Bears head coach removed him from the spot of quarterbacks coach back in January, making him the newly designated passing game coordinator instead. This allowed the Bears coaching staff to absorb John DeFilippo into that role.

According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, the perception around the league is Nagy made the right move. Belief is DeFilippo is just better at that job than Ragone was. If it weren't true then the Bears never would've made it.

"The other part of this conversation involves the actual coaching. The Bears’ change at QB coach is noteworthy with John DeFilippo replacing Dave Ragone. Around the league, it’s viewed as an upgrade. It’s a change that wouldn’t have happened if the Bears didn’t think it was necessary, either.

Ragone is the one offensive staff holdover from John Fox. He’ll remain on Nagy’s staff as the passing game coordinator. But in Kansas City, Mike Kafka’s responsibilities recently expanded to include the titles of quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator."

In all honesty, this move doesn't look or feel like a promotion.

It feels like they kept him on the staff to keep Trubisky happy while removing him from a position of direct control over anything. He doesn't run the quarterback room anymore. He doesn't run the offense as Bill Lazor will as coordinator. He's just sort of...there. That feels like a demotion more than anything.

Bears coaching staff seems better equipped offensively

Looking back, the fact is Ragone's track record was never the best. He was quarterbacks coach for one year in 2013 with Tennessee. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jake Locker combined for 22 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. A year later Fitzpatrick went to Houston and played much better. Ragone left for Chicago and has seen largely okay-to-below average play from his quarterbacks since arriving in 2016. He just doesn't seem like a guy who has been able to coach his players up.

Some DeFilippo has done almost routinely with his many stops over the years.

If nothing else, the revamped staff is much richer in one thing. That's experience. Juan Castillo (offensive line), Clancy Barone (tight end), Lazor and DeFilippo have been in the NFL for many years. Castillo and DeFilippo have Super Bowl rings. These guys understand what it takes to win and how to get there. Something Ragone could not boast.

So yeah. The outside people aren't wrong about this infusion being an upgrade.