Ben Johnson knew when he assembled his coaching staff last winter that there was a strong probability he’d end up losing key guys pretty quickly. Such is the price you pay for trying to put together the most qualified group possible. The Chicago Bears have already lost Eric Bieniemy to the Kansas City Chiefs, who made him their new offensive coordinator. It now looks like Al Harris may soon go the same route as a defensive coordinator. If that weren’t enough, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is getting looks for play calling opportunities elsewhere.
If all three do go, Johnson will need alternatives to replace them. Here are some names you can expect the Bears to at least take a look at.
Ben Johnson should have some quality options available.
RBs Coach: Duce Staley
Losing Bieniemy always felt inevitable for the Bears. The good news is that the massive turnover across the NFL has made some highly capable running backs coaches available. Staley is at the top of the list. He worked with Johnson for two years in Detroit, including his first year as offensive coordinator in 2022. Staley is a former running back himself who has done an excellent job coaching the position everywhere he’s been, including the past two years in Cleveland with the Browns.
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DBs Coach: Teryl Austin
Austin has been a highly successful defensive coordinator in both Detroit and Pittsburgh over his lengthy career. Outside of that, he’s also earned a glowing reputation as a defensive backs coach. Over a long career, he’s developed guys like Marcus Trufant, Ken Hamlin, Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, Darius Slay, and Quandre Diggs, among others. If anyone is qualified to take over Harris’s job moving forward, it would be Austin. There certainly wouldn’t be much risk of him leaving since he’s 60 years old.
Offensive coordinator: Jim Dray
Dray has been generating a lot of positive buzz in NFL circles over the past couple of years. He did great work this season with Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. It would make sense that Ben Johnson wants to reward that work with a promotion to offensive coordinator. Don’t forget the Bears are hiring Will Lawing to the staff. He has an extensive background coaching tight ends. He could easily take over for Dray. It will depend on whether Doyle leaves. Right now, Philadelphia is the only team interested in him, lowing the odds of an exit.
