Bears Hiring Prized Assistant Coach Reportedly Falls Apart

The Chicago Bears made the biggest splash of the offseason so far by hiring Ben Johnson as their new head coach. Landing the most coveted head coaching candidate available was a major win for the franchise, but the work of rebuilding the staff is not done yet.

The Bears still need to hire offensive and defensive coordinators and fill out the rest of the assistant coach openings.

One name that was speculated as a potential coach candidate for the Bears was Darren Rizzi. The experienced special teams coordinator and interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints was seen as an option to replace Richard Hightower in Chicago.

According to the latest reports, the Bears are expected to retain Hightower as the special teams coordinator. Per Broncos insider Mike Klis, Denver is a more likely option to land Rizzi, who could reunite with Sean Payton.

Bears Expected to Retain Richard Hightower as Special Teams Coordinator

Hightower has been with the Bears since 2022. This is his second stint with the organization after spending the 2016 season as an assistant special teams coach. He then joined the San Francisco 49ers to help lead them to a Super Bowl appearance.

As one of the more respected special teams coaches in the league, it is not a big surprise that Johnson would want to retain him.

As a young, first-time head coach, Johnson could use experienced assistants to make the transition as smooth as possible. Rizzi, with some head coaching experience under his belt, would have been a solid choice here, but the Bears don't have a good reason to part ways with Hightower.

Johnson can prioritize high-level experience in his offensive and defensive coordinator picks. Whether he will poach any coaches from the Lions or make internal hires remains to be seen.

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