The Chicago Bears had a pair of key vacancies to fill before the 2026 offseason officially begins on March 11, and they crossed one off the list with a familiar face.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson lost offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to the Baltimore Ravens and running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bears filled the latter void with former staffer Eric Studesville.
The Bears’ run game was a strength last season, putting a spotlight on Studesville.
Ben Johnson Fills Bears RB Coach Void With Familiar Face
Bears Re-Unite With Eric Studesville
The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs reported on February 4 that the Bears hired Studesville to be their running backs coach, bringing him full circle after spending the last eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
During that time, Studesville worked with Johnson, also a staffer with the franchise from 2012 through 2018.
The two were colleagues in that final season, before Johnson moved on to the Detroit Lions.
The Bears gave Studesville his first NFL coaching opportunity, hiring him as a quality control assistant in 1997 under former HC Dave Wannstedt through the 2000 season. He has also been with the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, and New York Giants.
Studesville had earned the title of Associate Head Coach, in addition to his role with the Dolphins’ RBs, but Bears wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El holds that in Chicago.
The Bears ranked third in rushing yards last season.
The Dolphins ranked 13th, which was their second-best mark of Studesville’s South Beach tenure. Personnel will always dictate much of what happens on the field, followed by the offense and playcaller, both of which come from Johnson.
Bieniemy’s personality was as much a part of his presence as his impact on the Bears’ running back room.
Studesville only needs to concern himself with meeting expectations with the RB’s production.
Johnson and the Bears have to hope Studesville–and the subsequent hire that will come to replace Doyle–give them the kind of mix they had that helped lay the foundation for a resurgent 2025 season.
