There is a price that comes with success. When the Chicago Bears broke through after years of misery to seize the NFC North, it was only a matter of time before other teams came calling on their coaching staff. Eric Bieniemy has already left, rejoining the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive coordinator for the second time. Now, defensive backs coach Al Harris seems to be the one in demand. He has already interviewed for the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator jobs.
However, a new favorite seems to have emerged. Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show relayed that Harris is the name to watch for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator job. It makes sense. That team just hired Mike McCarthy as their new head coach. Harris and McCarthy worked together from 2020 through 2024, making the playoffs three straight years. Pittsburgh’s defense is in desperate need of a fresh voice. Harris has been ready for this opportunity for the past several years.
Al Harris will be a tough loss for Chicago.
He was a major reason the defense forced so many takeaways in 2025. Kevin Byard had seven interceptions. Nahshon Wright had five. C.J. Gardner-Johnson had two despite not joining the team until midway through the season. Harris is such an excellent coach. It was only a matter of time before he took a promotion elsewhere. The only thing the Bears could’ve hoped for was that it might take a little longer to happen. Still, at least he’d be going to the AFC rather than an NFC rival like Green Bay or Dallas.
Replacing him will be a challenge. The easiest move would be promoting assistant secondary coach Matt Giardano to the role. However, he hasn’t been coaching in the NFL for very long. It might be wise for the Bears to find somebody a little more proven to step in for Al Harris. Former Bear Chris Harris is available after the Jets cleaned out their defensive staff. Teryl Austin, ironically, Pittsburgh’s former defensive coordinator, would fill the role perfectly. Dennis Allen also has ties to Joe Woods from their time together in New Orleans.
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The team has options.
