The Chicago Bears coaching staff has taken shape with the hiring of former NFL running back Chad Morton as their running backs coach, per the Chicago Sun-Times’s Jason Leiser on January 31.
Morton spent seven seasons in the NFL, mostly with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets. He was listed as a running back but he operated mostly as a return man. He is the younger brother of former Detroit Lions wide receiver Johnnie Morton.
Bears Hiring Chad Morton as RBs Coach: Report
Coaching Staff Takes Shape
The 46-year-old Morton spent the past three seasons with new Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron with the Seattle Seahawks.
Morton’s hiring filled the final position coaching job on the staff. But the Bears were not done.
They also hired former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to be their passing game coordinator, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on January 31. Brown worked with Waldron for one season with the Los Angeles Rams.
Chicago hired former Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to be their wide receivers coach, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.
Beatty coached star wideout DJ Moore in college at Maryland.
New Coaching Staff Could Mean Continuity for the Future
This brings the total number of new coaches/coordinators to six with Brown’s spot being a newly-created position this season. It could also serve to set up a succession plan should Waldron become a head coaching candidate next season.
That is always a concern with defensive head coaches like Matt Eberflus.
However, Brown already arrives highly regarded as an offensive coordinator, per Pelissero. And quarterback coach Kerry Joseph will call plays at this year’s Senior Bowl.
That all counts on the head coach remaining in place, which of course means getting, among other things, the quarterback position right this offseason. With Justin Fields on the roster and the No. 1 overall pick in hand, that looms above everything else the Bears have done and will do this offseason.