With all the talk about the offensive coordinator situation for the Chicago Bears, it is easy to forget they also need to find a new defensive coordinator as well. It has sat vacated ever since Alan Williams stepped down last September, forcing head coach Matt Eberflus to take over playcalling duties. While expectations are he will continue in that role, he still needs help organizing the defense every week and preparing them for Sundays. No news has surfaced for weeks on this front. That finally changed. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Bears plan to interview Tennessee Titans passing game coordinator Chris Harris.
Harris was drafted in the 6th round by the Bears in 2005. He became a starting safety right away, helping the team reach the Super Bowl a year later. After a stint in Carolina for a few years, he returned in 2010 and collected five interceptions, earning second-team All-Pro honors. After his playing days ended, he returned to Chicago in 2013 as a defensive quality control coach. From there, he steadily ascended the ranks until he became the Washington Commanders defensive backs coach in 2020. They ended up with a top five pass defense in two of his three seasons there.
The Chicago Bears’ interest in Harris should be obvious.
He grew up in the Tampa-2 defensive system under Lovie Smith. He also coached a variation of it under Ron Rivera in Washington. His familiarity with the scheme and its responsibilities makes him a no-brainer candidate for Matt Eberflus. There is no question he would hit the ground running immediately and be an immediate asset to the coaching staff, and likely a big upgrade over Williams even if he doesn’t call plays. He will also be a huge bonus for the Bears’ young and talented secondary.
One has to imagine Harris is excited about this opportunity. While he likely wouldn’t call plays, it would mark the first time he’d get to hold the defensive coordinator job. Getting to hold it for the organization that drafted him would be extra sweet. The Chicago Bears may wish to speak with other candidates before making a decision, but it’s hard not to feel like Harris is the immediate front-runner.
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