Bears hire one of Pagano's guys
New Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has been reunited with one of his most trusted lieutenants, Ted Monachino, who was hired Monday as the team's senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach.
Monachino served as defensive coordinator in Indianapolis for the final two seasons (2016-17) of Pagano's six-year stint as the Colts' head coach. Prior to that, Monachino spent six seasons with the Ravens as their linebackers coach (2012-15) and outside linebackers coach (2010-11). Pagano was the Ravens' defensive coordinator in 2011.
The 52-year-old Monachino, who replaces Brandon Staley as the Bears' outside linebackers coach, was a senior defensive analyst last season at Missouri, where was a three-year letterman for the Tigers and received Academic All-Big 8 honors twice. He recently was hired as Kansas State's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in December but spent just three weeks there before accepting the position with the Bears.
Monachino has coached 12 years in the NFL. Prior to his stint in Baltimore, he was the Jaguars' defensive line coach for four seasons (2006-09). He coached at the college level for 10 years before that, including five years at Arizona State.
Going international:
The NFL announced Monday that the Bears' road game against the Raiders next season will be played in London.
The Bears will return to England for the first time in eight years. They defeated the Buccaneers 24-18 on Oct. 23, 2011, before a crowd of 76,981 at Wembley Stadium. The Bears also played a preseason game at Wembley Stadium on Aug. 2, 1986, beating the Cowboys 17-6.
The date, time and venue for the contest will be announced along with the release of the full NFL schedule this spring.
After hosting three sold-out games at Wembley Stadium in consecutive weeks during the 2018 regular season, the NFL will play four contests in London in 2019. Two games will be played at Wembley Stadium and two at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That will bring the total number of NFL regular-season games played in London to 28 since the series began in 2007. After next season, the Packers will be the only NFL team that has not played a regular-season contest in London.
The other three London matchups in 2019 will feature the Panthers vs. the Buccaneers, the Bengals against the Rams and the Texans vs. the Jaguars. A fifth international game will be played in Mexico City between the Chiefs and Chargers.
In addition to their game against the Raiders in London, the Bears visit the Lions, Packers, Vikings, Broncos, Eagles, Rams and Washington in 2019. They host the Lions, Packers, Vikings, Chargers, Cowboys, Chiefs, Giants and Saints.
Trubisky joins the crowd:
Bears QB Mitch Trubisky has been added to the 2019 Pro Bowl on Jan. 27 as a replacement for Rams QB Jared Goff, who will play in Super Bowl LIII the following weekend.
Trubisky will join four teammates for the 2 p.m. game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, cornerback Kyle Fuller, safety Eddie Jackson and running back Tarik Cohen are all expected to play in their first Pro Bowl. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who was named a Pro Bowl starter for the fourth time, will not participate due to a minor knee injury.
Trubisky is the first Bears quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl since Jim McMahon in 1986. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,223 yards and a 95.4 passer rating, while also rushing for 421 yards.
• Bob LeGere is a senior writer at Pro Football Weekly. Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere or @PFWeekly.