The Chicago Bears went to the playoffs last season, winning 11 games along the way. They were top 10 in scoring and total yards while leading the league in takeaways. One would think the team is fine with the status quo going into 2026, particularly on the coaching front. That isn’t necessarily true. Head coach Ben Johnson made it clear multiple times over the spring that he and the staff need to coach better. Many issues last season went unaddressed. Issues that came back to bite them in the playoffs.
This is not to say Johnson is planning a wholesale purge if the Bears don’t win the Super Bowl this year. Nobody does that. That said, it does feel like there could be a minor shakeup if many of those same issues keep popping up throughout the 2026 season. This isn’t a head coach who is satisfied with using lack of talent as a crutch whenever things don’t go as hoped. Coaching matters too. Johnson holds everybody accountable. So who among his staff is in the most danger?
Multiple Chicago Bears assistants need to step up.
Mild: Wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El
It may seem shocking that Randle El is mentioned here. He was the prized name Johnson managed to pry away from Detroit when he came over to Chicago. There is no way they’d dismiss him, right? Probably not. However, it must be mentioned that Johnson was not happy with the wide receivers last year. Their inconsistency was a constant sore spot for the team, from poor route discipline to an appalling number of dropped passes. The head coach vowed things would be better this year. That responsibility falls at the feet of Randle El. If those same struggles continue, would Johnson look to send a message? It can’t be ruled out.
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Warm: Linebackers coach Richard Smith
Not enough people talk about how disappointing the Chicago Bears’ run defense was last season. They were 27th in the NFL. It was a constant headache trying to slow down opponents with good rushing attacks. Part of that was not enough contribution from the linebackers. Health issues were involved. T.J. Edwards was never on the field consistently, but it was also clear the group wasn’t disciplined enough. Smith has been around football for decades. He’s coached linebackers for 12 different teams. At 70 years old, it’s fair to wonder if he still has the edge necessary to stay on guys about their fundamentals and discipline.
Hot: Defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett
Garrett controls the most important unit on the Bears’ defense. Getting after the quarterback is priority #1 for every front. Garrett’s group didn’t do that well enough last season. Just 31.5 sacks in 17 games. You aren’t beating good quarterbacks in the playoffs with numbers like that. Garrett is among the most inexperienced of the team’s assistants, having only spent one year as a defensive line coach in the NFL before coming to Chicago. That lack of track record meant the hire was a gamble.
Chicago wasn’t going to fire him after one season. However, the pressure is entirely on him now. The Bears didn’t make any significant moves to upgrade their personnel this offseason. Just a few minor free agents and a 6th round pick. That means it falls to Garrett to get a group that the top brass feels is good enough playing up to its potential. If they don’t, there is a very real chance he gets replaced next year. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has never been afraid to shake up his staff.
