National Football League

Bears hire Jay Rodgers as defensive line coach

Published Jan. 25, 2015 8:05 p.m. ET

foxsports

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have hired Jay Rodgers as their defensive line coach.

Rodgers follows new Bears coach John Fox from Denver, where he spent the past six seasons on the staff. Rodgers oversaw the Broncos' defensive line the past three years. He worked with two Pro Bowl defensive ends in Elvis Dumervil and DeMarcus Ware during that time, and Denver led the NFL in rushing defense and was fourth with 134 sacks.

The Bears have a new general manager in Ryan Pace and coach in Fox after going 5-11 and missing the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years. Their defense ranked among the league's worst the past two seasons.

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