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Bears Send Another Key Staffer Packing With New Regime Taking Over

By Joseph Grassano

Nov 9, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) walks off the field after a game against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) walks off the field after a game against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images / Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
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Ben Johnson is building what seems to be a strong coaching staff for the Chicago Bears. Currently, the Bears have hired Daclan Doyle (OC), Antwaan Randle El (WR coach), J.T. Barrett (QB coach), Press Taylor (passing game coordinator), Dan Roushar( O-line coach), Eric Bieniemy (RB coach), Dennis Allen, (DC), Al Harris, (DB coach) and retained tight ends coach Jim Dray.

On paper, this staff is filled with both young and experienced coaches, which is good. That said, you never know how well people with different background ideas will mesh, but that's up to Johnson to iron out.

One area that has remained under the radar is the strength and conditioning staff -- until now.

Bears Move On From Strength and Conditioning Coach Jim Arthur

On Monday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported the Bears parted ways with head strength & conditioning coach Jim Arthur.

Arthur rejoined the Bears as the head strength and conditioning coach in 2022. Prior to that, Arthur was an assistant with that group in Chicago from 2006 to 2016. Furthermore, he worked with the Miami Dolphins (2015-2021) and Buffalo Bills (2002-2004) strength and conditioning assistant.

This past season, Arthur helped keep most Bears players healthy and in good shape. Even so, there were a few big names that dealt with some bad injury luck, and if you want to, a finger could be pointed at Arthur for that.

First off, safety Jaquan Brisker suffered a concussion following a big hit in the Week 5 game against the Carolina Panthers but played in the rest of the game. The concussion was then reported the day after, and it caused him to miss the rest of the season.

While head injuries are no joke, missing three months because of one is not typical. Nonetheless, Brisker's missed time might be better chalked up to the NFL's concussion protocol than Arthur's.

On the other hand, Montez Sweat's lack of production this season can be more closely blamed on Arthur. Although Sweat was also dealing with injuries for most of the season, he played through most of them. Yet, Sweat never played more than 80% of snaps in a game this year.

Even though then head coach Matt Eberflus kept telling the media and fans Sweat was playing the amount of snaps they needed him for, fans wanted to see him out there more. While Sweat's low snap counts can't all be blamed on Arthur, a lot of it can.

If Arthur had provided Sweat with a better conditioning routine, maybe he would have been available more in 2024. Regardless, it's time to see if Johnson can find a coach that provides the team with better strength and conditioning.

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