Dave

Ragone

Ragone served as the Falcons offensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023 and worked with the Bears as a QBs coach/passing game coordinator from 2016 to 2020. A former third-round pick of the Texans in 2003, Ragone spent five seasons in the NFL and joined the coaching ranks in 2010. Ragone struggled to get much out of Mitch Trubisky during his time in Chicago, but that shouldn’t serve as much of an indictment given how Trubisky’s career has played out. He now steps into a role with a savvy vet in Matthew Stafford, who is fresh off a year in which he threw for 3,965-24-11 in 15 games. In addition to Ragone, the Rams also hired Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase as their pass game specialist.

It’s not a splashy hire, but that was probably to be expected with new coach Arthur Smith serving as his own play-caller. With the Bears since 2016, Ragone served as Matt Nagy’s passing-game coordinator in 2020. It wasn’t much of a passing game with the Bears toggling back and forth between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles, though Trubisky had a few good games down the stretch. 41-year-old Ragone’s primary function will be to serve as a sounding board for his new boss. Ragone and Smith coached together in Tennessee from 2011-13.

Ragone spent four seasons as Chicago’s QBs coach before becoming the team’s pass game coordinator. He’s credited with working with Mitch Trubisky, who showed some improvements this season -- mostly against the worst defenses in the NFL. Ragone spent time on the Washington coaching staff, working with Kirk Cousins. Ragone would join Arthur Smith’s coaching staff, which is rounding into shape.

It’s probably a conditional late-round pick. Ragone, just claimed by the Bengals last month, played under Rams coach Scott Linehan while they were both at Louisville. This should bump Jeff Smoker off the Rams’ roster, while Ragone competes with Ryan Fitzpatrick for the No. 3 quarterback job.

Indianapolis is looking for any arm to backup Peyton Manning and an ailing Jim Sorgi. The Bengals, however, claimed Ragone before the Colts could.

The former NFL Europe MVP has a decent chance to make the Bengals roster. Anthony Wright, Doug Johnson, and Erik Meyer are vying to help out in Carson Palmer’s absence.

Ragone was more accurate, completing 9-of-11 passes to Fitzpatrick’s 5-of-10, but Fitz almost led the Rams to a comeback if not for a blown call. The two are battling for a roster spot.

Proving once again that NFL Europe is now utterly useless in terms of player development. Ragone and Rohan Davey have won the last two NFL Europe MVP awards and neither can hold down a No. 3 quarterback job in the NFL.

Ragone was altogether horrific in the final preseason contest. His departure secures Ryan Fitzpatrick’s spot as the third QB.

He’ll be one of the few players with legitimate NFL jobs to go to Europe. The Texans want to know if they can trust Ragone to backup David Carr next season.