New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is making quick work to assemble his first staff, and there are already several notable names joining the fray next season.
Johnson emphasized the importance of his staff in allowing him to oversee as he needs in the head coach’s chair during his introductory press conference. What’s more, Johnson is assembling a relatively young coaching staff that has already shown promise and can still grow.
Clocker Sports will update the list below as new hires are made official or appear imminent.
Ben Johnson Begins Coaching Staff With Trio of Former Players
Former Lions, Packers Joining Ben Johnson’s Bears Staff
Johnson did not come away with coveted Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley, nor did he emerge with quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell.
Johnson did, however, poach Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El for the same position, adding Assistant Head Coach to his duties, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter on X on January 24.
Joining them is former Lions assistant QB coach, J.T. Barrett, who moves up to the full role.
Both Barrett and Randle El made Clocker Sports’ list of OC candidates that could make sense for Johnson’s staff.
Johnson was not done, either, signing former Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach and assistant head coach Al Harris to be the Bears’ defensive pass game coordinator and DBs coach, per Schefter. Notably, Harris was a trusted member of Mike McCarthy’s staff in Dallas.
McCarthy was a candidate for the Bears HC job and still is for the New Orleans Saints.
Bears Coaching Staff Rumor Mill
The Bears requested permission to interview Minnesota Vikings passing game coordinator and DBs coach, Daronte Jones, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on January 23. It is unclear what role they were interested in Jones for, though a promotion would seem to be in order.
Either way, Harris’ arrival is a significant factor in the rest of the defensive staff, which notably remains without a coordinator.
**UPDATE: The Bears have hired Dennis Allen to be their defensive coordinator, per Rapoport in a report on January 26.
Chicago interviewed Titans QB coach Bo Hardegree for their offensive coordinator vacancy, per Rapoport on January 25.
The Bears interviewed Denver Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle for offensive coordinator, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on January 25. The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs linked Doyle to the position on January 24. According to Biggs, the Bears have also requested permission to interview Broncos executive David Shaw for OC. Shaw was a candidate for HC.
Biggs has also linked Tulane’s Dan Roushar to the Bears for OL coach. Roushar and Johnson worked together on the Miami Dolphins.
CBS Sports Jonathan Jones reported on January 25 that the Bears requested permission to interview Arizona Cardinals QB coach Israel Woolfolk for their OC vacancy, citing his experience with Kyler Murray.
**UPDATE: Biggs reports on January 26 that the Bears have hired Declan Doyle to be their offensive coordinator.
2025 Bears Coaching Staff
(* Denotes holdover): The Bears have several members of former head coach Matt Eberflus’ staff still listed on the team’s website, though their bios have not been updated. They are included in this list and will be changed accordingly.
Head Coach – Ben Johnson
Offensive Coordinator – Declan Doyle
Defensive Coordinator – Dennis Allen
Special Teams Coordinator – Richard Hightower*
Asst. HC/WR Coach – Antwaan Randle El
QB Coach – J.T. Barrett
RB Coach – Eric Bieniemy
TE Coach – Jim Dray*
OL Coach – Dan Roushar
DL Coach – Jeremy Garrett
LB Coach – Richard Smith
Def. Pass Game Coord/DBs Coach – Al Harris
Off. Pass Game Coordinator – Press Taylor
Off. Asst. QB/WR – Robbie Picazo*
Sr. Defensive Assistant/Defensive Line – Bill Johnson
Asst. OL Coach – Kyle Devan
Asst. LB Coach – Kevin Koch*
Asst. Defensive Backs/Safeties – Matt Giordano
Defensive Asst./Nickelbacks – Cannon Matthews
Asst. Special Teams Coach – Anthony Blevins
Off. Quality Control – Mike Aponte & Zach Cable*
Def. Quality Control – Kenny Norton III*
Head Strength & Conditioning – Pierre Ngo*
Asst. Strength & Conditioning – Noble Landry* & Allison Haley
Sr. Director of Coaching Operations – Justin Rudd
Manager of Coaching Administration – Chavis Cook*
Director of Research Analysis – Harrison Fried*