The Chicago Bears have won the NFC North for the first time in seven years. Moreover, they achieved this feat just one year after being the worst team in the division and after starting the season 0-2. Clearly, hiring Ben Johnson was the right move.
Nevertheless, as good as the first-year head coach has been, he hasn't done this alone. His coaching staff also deserves plenty of credit for the team's success, and their hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. Unfortunately, that means several of them could be on their way out in the offseason.
Chicago's Success Could Cost Bears Multiple Assistant Coaches
According to a report by CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, multiple teams will keep tabs on several of Ben Johnson's assistant coaches in the offseason. Notably, the team might not be in a position to keep all of them.
"There are several coordinator candidates who dot this staff. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle doesn't call plays, but he's been under Johnson's tutelage all season long and hasn't yet turned 30. The Bears could block teams from interviewing Doyle for their OC position if they so choose. But outside of Doyle and the other coordinators, the Bears can't block teams from interviewing other assistant coaches," Jones wrote.
With the Detroit Lions already eliminated from playoff contention and Dan Campbell taking playcalling duties off new offensive coordinator John Morton, he looks like a major threat to steal some assistant coaches from his pupil. Pass game coordinator Press Taylor could draw some consideration for offensive coordinator roles, and the same goes for J.T. Barrett, a former Ohio State standout and the Bears' quarterback coach.
The Kansas City Chiefs might lose OC Matt Nagy to a head coaching position, and given their history with Eric Bieniemy and their offensive needs, the Bears' running back coach might be a no-brainer selection for them, especially given what he's done with D'Andre Swift and seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai.
Last but not least, defensive backs coach Al Harris should also draw plenty of consideration for a defensive coordinator role. He's already helped guys like Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland get paid, and he's turned the Bears' secondary into a turnover-cerating machine. The Bears are leading the league with 21 interceptions, and he's already paid his dues as a 13-year veteran assistant coach.
The Bears have proven that they're not a fluke, and they should be a contending team for years to come. Unfortunately, that's a two-edged sword, and everybody else in the league will try to take a page off their book as well.