Karl Dunbar, who was a reserve defensive tackle for parts of five NFL seasons, was named the Bears’ defensive line coach Tuesday.
Dunbar, 36, spent last season as the defensive line coach at Oklahoma State, which increased its sack total from 28 to 32 on the way to a berth in the Cotton Bowl, where the Cowboys (9-4) lost to Mississippi.
Dunbar was an All-Southeastern Conference performer at LSU as a senior and was the school’s assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2000-2002. Before that he was the defensive line coach at Nicholls (La.) State for two years.
He began coaching at the high school level in Louisiana.
An eighth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1990, Dunbar missed most of that season with a foot injury and was waived at the end of training camp in 1991. He sat out 1991 and spent 1992 on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.
In 1993, he played in 13 games for the Saints and made his only career start. He played for the Arizona Cardinals in 1994-95.
Richard Dent, who was an assistant defensive line coach last season, said his status has not been determined.