NEWSLETTER
The changes at Halas Hall this offseason will not be limited to the head coach.
The Athletic’s Adam Jahns reports a handful of assistant coaches will *NOT* be retained by new Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson. Here is the early list:
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach
- Chris Beatty, interim offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach
- Eric Washington, defensive coordinator
- Kerry Joseph, quarterbacks coach
- Chris Morgan, offensive line coach
It should not be a surprise that these coaches aren’t coming back for the 2025 season. I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors, particularly Thomas Brown. The Bears put Brown in a tough spot and his accelerated rise from passing game coordinator to head coach in the span of a few weeks should serve as a reminder that you can reach any heights your heart desires if you have the right attitude, work ethic, and the ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Also, Thomas Brown beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. That isn’t something that has happened enough in recent years to just brush it away. Thanks for that, TB.
Chicago Bears coaching staff changes are coming
A very quick takeaway regarding this bit of news is that I find myself encouraged that Ben Johnson won’t be saddled with staffers who aren’t of his choosing. Giving Johnson a clean slate and the power to build out his own staff is the kind of thing that is normal for organizations, but new to us. In previous coaching regime changes, it has been understandable for fans to be weary of a new coach retaining a prior coach’s personnel. As Bears fans, we’ve seen this film before and rarely like the ending. So this news hits differently simply because we’re not used to it.
MORE: Bears Brass Reportedly Has the Green Light to Spend Big on New Coaching Staff
With that being said, I find it interesting that Special Teams Coordinator Richard Hightower wasn’t among the coaches on the initial list of coaches the Bears are parting ways with right now. This isn’t to say that Hightower is a lock to return to the staff in 2025. However, his standing as a respected long-time special teams coach could help him stick around. If he does, this will be the third coaching regime Hightower has been with in Chicago. Hightower was the Bears’ assistant special teams coach in 2016 under John Fox.
Defensive Backs Coach Jon Hoke also wasn’t name-checked among the coaches the team is parting ways with in the early going. What was said above about Hightower can be applied to Hoke, who is a respected secondary coach. Considering the DBs room was a strength of Chicago’s defense the last few years, I could understand why a new coach might want to keep Hoke around. We’ll keep tabs on this as the offseason develops.
As for the coaches who are on their way out, I imagine that Bears fans will take notice that Offensive Line Coach Chris Morgan is among the departing coaches. Chicago’s offensive line has been disappointing and it feels as if there were moments in which key players took a step back or treaded water. I am looking forward to seeing what putting new eyes on an old problem will do for this team (and position group) moving forward.
With the Bears rumored to be in on bringing in Dennis Allen as a possible assistant on Ben Johnson’s staff and lining up an interview request with Los Angeles Rams assistant Aubrey Pleasant for their defensive coordinator position, it was only a matter of time that Eric Washington’s dismissal was officially official. But perhaps Washington won’t go too far for his next stop. CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones reports the Green Bay Packers interviewed Washington for the vacancy the team has at its defensive line coach position. Stay tuned.
