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.

Dennis Allen was fired as the Saints head coach on Nov. 3 and will now run the defense for new coach Ben Johnson in Chicago.

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.