The unexpected announcement of the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach of the Chicago Bears contradicted yesterday’s head coach report and rumor tracker that we posted this morning. So, now that the Bears found their guy, I had to start a new tracker for reports and rumors about his coaching staff.
Johnson could look to Detroit to bring an assistant with him to play a coordinator role in Chicago. The most common name is Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley, who could join the Bears as Johnson’s offensive coordinator. Two other rumored candidates for Johnson’s OC job are quarterback coach Mark Brunell and passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand. I’ve heard that Johnson and Brunell are close and that Egstrand is also an option to take over as the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
For a complete list of potential coaching connections throughout Johnson’s career, check out Aaron Leming’s article here.
There are no plans for any current staff to remain in Chicago, and some have already begun interviewing for new teams.
The Rooney Rule applies to all three coordinator positions as well as the quarterback coach. Two minorities are to be interviewed for a vacant coordinator position, and one minority is to be interviewed for a QB coaching position, all of which may be virtual.
Here we will be tracking all the reports and rumors regarding Ben Johnson’s first Bears coach:
- Yesterday, Dennis Allen was mentioned as a possibility for Johnson’s defensive coordinator.
- Detroit OL coach Hank Fraley interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks for their vacant OC position.
- Darren Rizzi of the New Orleans Saints is in the mix with the Bears and a few other teams for the special teams coordinator position.
Chicago Bears 2025 coaching staff
Head coach: Ben Johnson
Offensive coordinator:
Defensive coordinator:
Special Teams Coordinator:
QB Coach:
OL coach:
