Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has made his first major moves in the team’s coaching staff. After hiring Johnson, a new tracker has been launched to follow reports and rumors about his coaching staff. Johnson is expected to bring several assistants from Detroit with him to Chicago.
Rumored candidates for the offensive coordinator position include Hank Fraley, who coached the Lions’ offense, and Mark Brunell, who previously worked with Johnson. Tanner Engstrand, another former Johnson assistant, may also be in the mix. The Rooney Rule applies to these positions, requiring at least one minority candidate to be interviewed.
Other notable coaching connections include Dennis Allen, who was mentioned as a possibility for defensive coordinator, and Darren Rizzi, who is vying for special teams coordinator with the Bears and other teams. A new list of potential coaching staff members can be found here.
As Johnson’s team takes shape, fans will have to wait and see which assistants make the cut. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, the Bears are working to build a cohesive coaching staff that reflects the Rooney Rule requirements.
Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/1/21/24348654/ben-johnson-bears-assistant-coach-search-news-and-rumor-tracker-hank-fraley-mark-brunell-rooney-rule