Head coach Ben Johnson knew the offensive line would be central to any success he’d have with the Chicago Bears. He had to find a coach with credibility. Thanks to a tip from Dan Campbell, he recruited Dan Roushar for the job. The 65-year-old had a strong reputation thanks to his extended success with the New Orleans Saints in the late 2010s. He was a great choice to help whip a unit that had just allowed 68 sacks into shape. His impact was felt immediately. Chicago allowed just 24 sacks in 2025 and ranked 3rd in the league in rushing.
Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright both made All-Pro, while Drew Dalman made the Pro Bowl. It was a stunning turnaround of fortunes. How in the world did Roushar accomplish it so quickly? Former left tackle Terron Armstead knows why. He’d experienced the man first-hand during their time together in New Orleans, and detailed that on the Bears Etc. podcast. Unlike many offensive line coaches in the league, Roushar had certain traits that made him special. Most notably, he was willing and able to actually teach and develop his players.
Dan Roushar was somewhat unique in that regard.
“I’m passionate about it. I’m passionate about it for sure, because he…when I got to the NFL, Jeff, I thought all coaches were gurus. These guys know everything about the position. They gonna turn everyone into a master. That is so far from the truth. A lot of these guys, a lot of the coaches in the NFL, they know scheme. They know matchups. They know the playbook inside and out. They’ve been with their head coach and went from the Saints to Seattle to Denver to Vegas. Do you know what I (found out)? They’ve been together, but not necessarily developing.
It’s not as many developers in the NFL as I thought when I got there. You’re coming in as a professional. So, a lot of times you’re supposed to be a professional already and supposed to have these answers. And not saying that coaches don’t have drills and all the things that help improve what you have and what you do, but not all are able to truly develop and teach technique and really get the progression that other programs (can). You can see it around the league. You can see certain teams that draft well, they develop well, and you see others that’s more free agent heavy, guys that are more ready.”
Dan Roushar understands coaching and developing aren’t the same.
The unfortunate truth of college football is that few of the coaches down there actually take the time to teach the full array of fundamentals at every position. They merely do just enough so that players understand how to execute whatever scheme and system they’re playing in. That is why they appear so woefully unprepared once they reach the NFL. Pro systems are far more complex and diverse. Most of them don’t lean on the set of techniques that those players learn. That is why they’re forced to work so hard catching up.
Too many of them never do because they don’t have coaches willing to take the time to teach them. Roushar is different. He understands that true NFL success can’t happen unless your linemen can execute anything and everything asked of them. That requires players who understand the details down to their bones. So he grills them every single day, challenging them to master the fundamentals and expand their arsenal as far and wide as possible. That is how Armstead became one of the best in football.
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His first big test is coming this year.
Last season, Dan Roushar wasn’t required to work much magic. The Bears provided him with an assortment of quality veterans to coach. Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson had already played in the NFL for years. They didn’t need much finetuning. The only real job Roushar had was developing 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo. That was going well until the big tackle tore his patella in the playoffs. Things are considerably different going into the 2026 season.
Dalman abruptly retired at age 27, leaving the center position in flux. Veteran Garrett Bradbury and 2nd round pick Logan Jones will battle for it in training camp. Trapilo’s absence leaves left tackle unresolved as well. Braxton Jones, Jedrick Wills, Theo Benedet, and Kiran Amegadjie are all possibilities. It is times like these that someone like Roushar earns his money. He must grill these young men, seeking to find the one most capable of handling the immense responsibility of being a starter.
Armstead doesn’t think that will be a problem.
