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Denver Broncos hire Ed Donatell as defensive coordinator

Ed Donatell is the new defensive coordinator for the Broncos
Image: Ed Donatell is the new defensive coordinator for the Broncos

The Denver Broncos have agreed to hire former Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Ed Donatell as defensive coordinator.

Donatell has been one of new Broncos head coach Vic Fangio's top assistants since 2011 in San Francisco. He also had two previous tenures in Denver as the secondary coach, from 1995-99 as part of two Super Bowl-winning teams and a one-year stint in 2010.

"Ed's been an integral part of top-10 defenses for six of the last eight seasons in two different places, and he's a great fit to be our defensive coordinator," Fangio said in a statement.

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"Having worked very closely with him for a number of years, Ed has a strong understanding of the entire defense from the front end to the back end with the defensive backs being his specialty."

Donatell, who turns 62 in February, interviewed for the Bears' coordinator position after Fangio left for Denver, but that job went to Chuck Pagano. The Bears wanted him back as DBs coach, but Donatell was free to leave as his contract expired.

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Highlights from the NFL as Denver Broncos took on Arizona Cardinals in week seven.

In Denver, he will have the coordinator title for the fourth time in his career, though Fangio plans to call plays on Sundays.

Donatell was last a coordinator with Washington in 2008, after previous stints running defenses in Green Bay (2000-03) and Atlanta (2004-06).

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The Broncos announced earlier Tuesday they have hired former Bears outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley for the same position in Denver, after he spent two years under Fangio in Chicago.

Per 9News Denver, the Broncos are continuing to interview San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello on Tuesday for their opening at offensive coordinator, after beginning the process Monday.

There have been no other reported candidates for the offensive coordinator position.

Gary Kubiak was expected to fill the role before philosophical differences disrupted the plan, and he has since been hired by the Minnesota Vikings.

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