Ben Johnson has some work to do on his coaching staff. While he was fortunate not to lose Declan Doyle and Al Harris to jobs elsewhere despite significant league interest, he did lose one of his best. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy departed to become the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. While not entirely a surprise, it left big shoes to fill. Initial reports suggested Johnson may bring in Eric Studesville, whom he worked with in Miami. However, another name has entered the chat in the past 24 hours: Duce Staley.
Many regard the former running back as one of the best coaches at the position in the NFL. Johnson would know. They worked together in Detroit. Now, Staley is available after the Cleveland Browns fired their coaching staff. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune mentioned a reunion in Chicago is a possibility.
Keep an eye on Eric Studesville and Duce Staley as possibilities for the running backs coach vacancy on Ben Johnson’s staff. Studesville was an assistant for the Bears from 1997-2000 and worked with Johnson in Miami. Some wondered if the Dolphins would look to keep Studesville on new coach Jeff Hafley’s staff, but they hired Ladell Betts as their running backs coach.
Staley has been with the Cleveland Browns the last two seasons. He worked with Johnson in Detroit in 2021 and 2022.
This isn’t just about familiarity for Johnson. He’s made that clear from the start. Staley is as qualified as anyone in the NFL for the job. One could argue he should already be a head coach.
Duce Staley gets results.
That has been the case from the beginning. In his first year as a running backs coach, he helped LeSean McCoy have the best season of his career in 2013, earning All-Pro honors. He developed Miles Sanders into an eventual Pro Bowler. Then, in Detroit, he helped Jamaal Williams score a career-high 17 touchdowns in 2022. In an ugly season with Carolina, he still got Chuba Hubbard to a then-career best 902 yards. Finally, in Cleveland, he turned Quinshon Judkins into the NFL’s leading rookie rusher.
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If the Bears are looking for somebody with credibility, they can do way worse than Duce Staley. He is experienced, accomplished, and respected. He also knows how to handle tough situations. It doesn’t hurt that he has a Super Bowl ring from his time in Philadelphia. There isn’t much else to say. If he is the guy Chicago goes for, it would be a home run hire. He would be as good a replacement for Bieniemy as the team could hope for.
