Chicago Bears’ first year head coach Ben Johnson has overseen one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the league, transforming Chicago from 5-12 a year ago to a legitimate contender almost overnight.
But that success has also created the Bears’ next problem. Several Bears assistants are expected to draw strong interest league-wide, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reporting that Johnson’s staff could be “raided” this offseason.
Ben Johnson was once the coveted assistant at the center of the league’s hiring carousel. Now, he finds himself on the other side of it, tasked with protecting the coaching infrastructure that powered Chicago’s breakthrough season.
Offensive Assistants Quietly Building Resumes
GettyBears QB Caleb Williams
While offensive coordinator Declan Doyle doesn’t call plays, his age (under 30) and proximity to Johnson’s system alone make him intriguing. But while Chicago could block teams from interviewing Doyle for an OC role if it wanted to, that protection doesn’t extend to everyone. That’s where names like Press Taylor and J.T. Barrett come into play.
Press Taylor has reshaped his career in Chicago, stepping into a passing game coordinator position for the Bears and looking great. J.T. Barrett is a quarterbacks coach, and that position historically feeds offensive coordinator interviews, especially when coming from a successful system.
Then there’s Eric Bieniemy, whose season may be the most fascinating of all. After a brief career dip following his exit from Kansas City (stops with Washington and UCLA didn’t stick) Bieniemy has quietly rebuilt his reputation in Chicago. The Bears’ backfield of D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai has already combined for more than 2,100 scrimmage yards, production that doesn’t happen by accident.
League sources believe Lions head coach Dan Campbell will be in the market for a new offensive coordinator, and how ironic would be Detroit ends up pulling from Johnson’s staff one year after Ben Johnson left the Lions himself.
Al Harris Is the Defensive Trump Card
GettyBears Defensive Backs Coach Al Harris
If there’s one assistant whose resume jumps off the page, it’s Al Harris. The former All-Pro and Pro Bowler has become one of the most effective defensive backs coaches in football. Under Harris, Chicago’s defense has produced a league-leading 22 interceptions.
Harris’ track record only strengthens the case. During his final four seasons with the Cowboys (2021-2024), Dallas led the NFL with 72 interceptions. He coached Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland into first team All-Pros. This season, without Harris, the Cowboys sit near the bottom of the league in takeaways. However, there is a silver lining… And it’s a significant one.
Because Johnson is an offensive-minded head coach, the Bears don’t face the nightmare scenario of losing their primary play-caller. And on the defensive side, veteran coordinator Dennis Allen isn’t expected to be a flight risk after already serving and being fired as a head coach twice.
Still, continuity matters. Chemistry matters. And the Bears are about to find out just how expensive success can be.
Chicago has arrived. Now comes the harder part: sustaining it while the rest of the league tries to take pieces of what Ben Johnson and the Bears have built.
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