Mike Phair will begin his second season as defensive line coach of the Bears after being hired on February 3, 2011.
Mike Phair will begin his second season as defensive line coach of the Bears after being hired on February 3, 2011.
The Bears defensive line produced 30 of the team's 33 sacks in 2011, seventh most in the NFL by a defensive front and the third highest percentage by a defensive line in the NFL (90.9). DE Julius Peppers was selected to the Pro Bowl after tying for 11th in the NFL with 11 sacks, most by a Bears player since 2006. DT Henry Melton tied for third in the NFL among defensive tackles with a career-high seven sacks. Melton and fellow DT Amobi Okoye each had 42 sack yards, tied for second among NFL defensive tackles in 2011.
Prior to joining the Bears, Phair spent six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks including the last three on their coaching staff. Phair held the positions of defensive assistant (2010), assistant defensive line coach (2009) and assistant linebacker coach (2008) with Seattle after spending the previous three years as an area scout for the Seahawks (2005-07), including their 2005 NFC Championship season. In 2008, Phair helped linebacker Julian Peterson to his fifth Pro Bowl nod.
Prior to coming to Seattle, Phair spent three seasons in the college scouting department of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including their Super Bowl XXXVII championship season in 2002. Phair has college coaching experience with Arizona State (graduate assistant/defense working with the defensive line, 1999-2000) and Tiffin University (linebackers/special teams/recruiting, 2001).
Phair played collegiate football at Arizona State, starting two years at linebacker after beginning his career with the Sun Devils as a walk-on. He played two seasons at Mesa Community College, earning first-team all-conference honors in 1989.
Phair and his wife, Jennifer, have four children: Parker, Coleman, Maisy and Ava.
