The Chicago Bears brought Dennis Allen aboard as their defensive coordinator with a clear vision: stability. After all, Allen had already been a head coach twice in the NFL, and those stints didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard.
That track record meant teams likely wouldn’t be knocking on his door for another head coaching gig anytime soon - a win for the Bears, who could keep a seasoned play-caller in-house without worrying about him being poached. But in the NFL, nothing ever stays simple for long.
Now, there’s buzz coming out of Denver. According to reports, there’s a growing belief that Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph could be on his way out - potentially stepping into a head coaching role, with Arizona being a likely landing spot. Add to that the possibility that Jim Leonhard, another top name on the defensive coaching circuit, could also be heading elsewhere, and suddenly Denver’s defensive staff is looking like it might be gutted.
That’s where things get interesting for Chicago.
If both Joseph and Leonhard leave, the Broncos would be left scrambling for a proven defensive mind - and Dennis Allen fits that bill. Allen has deep ties to Denver head coach Sean Payton from their shared days in New Orleans, and that connection could put Allen squarely in the Broncos’ sights. Word is, Denver might even consider something that’s almost unheard of in the league: trading for a coordinator.
To put that in perspective, there’s only been one precedent - and that involved a guy named Bill Belichick, who was traded and immediately made a head coach. So yeah, this kind of move isn’t just rare - it’s borderline historic.
But let’s talk value. The Bears have every reason to hold Allen in high regard.
Despite a defense that battled through injuries, lacked elite speed, and struggled to generate consistent pass rush, Allen’s unit led the entire league in takeaways. That’s not just good coaching - that’s elite-level scheming and in-game adjustment.
His fingerprints were all over the Bears’ wild card comeback win over Green Bay, where his halftime adjustments helped flip the script in dramatic fashion.
So if Denver does come calling, what would it take for the Bears to even pick up the phone?
It won’t be cheap. Mid-round picks?
Not happening. That doesn’t come close to matching the value Allen brings, especially given how he’s elevated a defense that, on paper, shouldn’t be performing at this level.
But if the Broncos start dangling a second-rounder - or even a first - now we’re talking. Those kinds of picks don’t come around often, and they can be franchise-shaping tools for a team still building out its identity under new head coach Ben Johnson.
The real question then becomes: how confident is Johnson in his ability to find another coordinator who can replicate what Allen has done? That’s a tough ask.
Defensive minds like Allen don’t grow on trees, and the Bears know what they have. For now, the expectation is that Chicago won’t entertain the idea - not unless the offer is too good to ignore.
Still, in a league where front office decisions can shift overnight, this is one situation worth keeping an eye on.