The reason: he was Johnson once. Allen, the Bears ’ new defensive coordinator, was a 39-year-old first-time head coach when the Raiders started their 2012 regular season. Johnson will be 39 when the Bears play their first game with him as their head coach.

The mentality that new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen plans to bring to the Bears is in keeping with the team’s storied history as “Monsters of the Midway.”

Ben Johnson made one of the first big moves of his Chicago Bears coaching tenure this week when he hired former Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen to be his defensive coordinator.

The Bears are set to hire former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen as the team's new defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Allen's strong candidacy was one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL over the last five days after the Bears hired Ben Johnson as the new head coach,

The Bears are bringing in former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator. Chicago has also hired Denver Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle to serve as the offensive coordinator and is retaining special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.

Both coaches blossomed under future Hall of Famer Sean Payton and have a lot to offer to new Bears coach Ben Johnson.

The Chicago Bears are hiring former New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen as their next defensive coordinator and former Denver Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle as their offensive coordinator, NF

The Chicago Bears hired Dennis Allen to serve as Ben Johnson's defensive coordinator in a move that brings instant credibility to the coaching staff.

The Chicago Bears have hired Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator and Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator under new coach Ben Johnson.

The plan for coordinator Dennis Allen's Bears defense is being more aggressive, and it starts with bulking up their pass rush.

Sources: The #Bears are hiring former #Saints head coach and respected guru Dennis Allen as their new defensive coordinator. The favorite to join coach Ben Johnson’s staff since Johnson’s hire, Allen adds experience and a top-notch DC to Chicago. pic.twitter.com/oYpIftgfB9