Bret Bielema’s Illinois finished 9-4 this past season, a step back from their 10-3 record the previous year. The decline was primarily attributed to defensive struggles. Although the unit improved its yards allowed from 373.2 in 2024 to 344.9 in 2025 and maintained a 1.5-touchdown-per-game average, Illinois still gave up an average of 26.3 points per game in its four losses, underscoring critical breakdowns at key moments.
Bret Bielema Set to Tap Seahawks’ Chris Partridge as Illinois’ Next Defensive Coordinator
In response to these defensive shortcomings, Illinois has turned to professional expertise, bringing in Super Bowl-winning Seattle outside linebackers coach Chris Partridge, who is expected to sign on soon as the team’s new defensive coordinator.
According to a report from “Keepin’ It Orange and Blue Podcast” host and 200 Columns Illini recruiting insider Ryan Evan Schroat, Illinois is expected to finalize a deal with Partridge as its new defensive coordinator.
Partridge emerged as a top candidate after former defensive coordinator Aaron Henry departed for Notre Dame to become its new co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
Henry, who succeeded Ryan Walters in 2023 after Walters moved to Purdue as head coach, faced scrutiny throughout his tenure amid perceptions that the Illinois defense had regressed over the past two seasons.
Seattle hired Partridge in February 2024 after helping Michigan win the national championship. The Hackensack, New Jersey, native helped second-year LB Derick Hall record career-highs in sacks (8.0) and quarterback hits (20).
He also guided Boye Mafe to finish 6.0 sacks and 12 quarterback hits last season. The OLB coach assisted Uchenna Nwosu in his return to the field after missing the final 11 games of 2023 and parts of 2024 due to injury.
This season, Nwosu had 35 tackles (17 solo) and seven sacks in the regular season and recorded two tackles during the postseason. Mafe compiled 31 tackles (11 solo) and two sacks during the regular season and had five tackles in the postseason.
Hall, on the other hand, compiled 30 tackles (11 solo) and two sacks during the regular season and five tackles (four solo) and two sacks (all in Super Bowl LX) during the postseason.
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During his national championship-winning season with Michigan, Partridge helped linebackers Junior Colson and Michael Barrett earn All-Big Ten Conference selections. Colson and Barrett powered the Wolverines’ defense, ranking in the top three in various categories, including pass efficiency defense (third), total defense (second), defensive touchdowns (first), and scoring defense (first).
Partridge also spent three seasons in Ole Miss as the co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach from 2020-22 and in Michigan from 2015-19, serving as director of player personnel (2015), linebackers coach (2016-17), and safeties coach (2018-19), while also handling special teams coordinator duties (2016-19).
Bret Bielema will once again lead Illinois’ quest for its sixth national title and first in 75 years. He hopes Chris Partridge will be the defensive coordinator who will help him win that elusive championship.
