Bears Coach Exodus: The Unlikely Departure of Bieniemy and Harris as Johnson Seeks to Regroup.
The Chicago Bears are undergoing a period of significant change as two key coaches departed the team. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who was instrumental in the development of the Bears' rushing attack under head coach Ben Johnson, has been hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as their new offensive coordinator. This decision marks a reunion between Bieniemy and Chiefs coach Andy Reid, with whom he worked previously.
Meanwhile, defensive backs coach Al Harris is in talks to become the Green Bay Packers' new defensive coordinator. Harris spent time playing cornerback for the Packers from 2003 to 2009, earning two Pro Bowl selections during his tenure with the team. His brother, Michael Harris, was an assistant coach under the now-Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.
Both Bieniemy and Harris were key contributors to Johnson's staff, with impressive results in their respective departments. The Bears' running backs unit finished third in the league in rushing yards this season under Bieniemy's guidance. On defense, the team led the NFL in interceptions under Harris' tutelage.
In a press conference addressing the departures of his coaches, Johnson expressed his understanding and willingness to help those leaving move forward. "It's no different than if you're trying to lose weight," he said. "If you're trying to lose 50 pounds, the first 30 is the easiest. The last 20, that's the hard part." This comment reflects Johnson's desire for his team to continue growing and improving despite losing key coaching staff members.
While this exodus may seem like a setback, it also presents an opportunity for growth and development within the organization. With a few NFL teams already inquiring about his coaching staff, it appears that there is significant interest in Johnson's talent pool.
The Chicago Bears are undergoing a period of significant change as two key coaches departed the team. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who was instrumental in the development of the Bears' rushing attack under head coach Ben Johnson, has been hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as their new offensive coordinator. This decision marks a reunion between Bieniemy and Chiefs coach Andy Reid, with whom he worked previously.
Meanwhile, defensive backs coach Al Harris is in talks to become the Green Bay Packers' new defensive coordinator. Harris spent time playing cornerback for the Packers from 2003 to 2009, earning two Pro Bowl selections during his tenure with the team. His brother, Michael Harris, was an assistant coach under the now-Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.
Both Bieniemy and Harris were key contributors to Johnson's staff, with impressive results in their respective departments. The Bears' running backs unit finished third in the league in rushing yards this season under Bieniemy's guidance. On defense, the team led the NFL in interceptions under Harris' tutelage.
In a press conference addressing the departures of his coaches, Johnson expressed his understanding and willingness to help those leaving move forward. "It's no different than if you're trying to lose weight," he said. "If you're trying to lose 50 pounds, the first 30 is the easiest. The last 20, that's the hard part." This comment reflects Johnson's desire for his team to continue growing and improving despite losing key coaching staff members.
While this exodus may seem like a setback, it also presents an opportunity for growth and development within the organization. With a few NFL teams already inquiring about his coaching staff, it appears that there is significant interest in Johnson's talent pool.
The Bears' coach exodus has me thinking... 
It's like they're getting a fresh start, you know? Losing Bieniemy and Harris might be tough at first, but it also means new challenges for Ben Johnson to tackle. 
He's gotta regroup and find ways to improve the team without his top guys. Maybe this is an opportunity for other coaches on staff to step up and show what they're made of 
It's not all bad news, I guess... 
. One minute you're happy to see your team grow and improve, the next you're losing key members of your staff 
. It's like they say, "you can't make a good first impression by making it last" 
. I mean, what's going on with Johnson? He's not even 6 months in and he's already losing his top guys 
. It's like they're trying to sabotage the Bears' chances of success 
. Can't we just have one stable team for once?! 
. It's gonna be tough for Johnson to find guys who can fill those shoes. But at the same time, I'm hopeful that he'll use these departures as an opportunity to rebuild and come back even stronger 
.
But at the same time, I think this is actually a good thing for the team. It's like he's saying "okay, we've got some gaps, let's fix them" 
. Ben Johnson seemed like a solid coach, but I guess you can't keep good staff (or in this case, coaches) down for long 
.
. I wonder if this is a sign that Mike McCarthy might be making some moves behind the scenes... 
. On the bright side, though, Coach Johnson seems pretty chill about it - like he knows it's part of the game (losing good people) and that there's always room for growth 
.
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. It's like a game of musical chairs, coaches have to move on when better opportunities come along 
. The thing that concerns me is what this means for Johnson's ability to build a cohesive team, he needs to be careful not to lose his core values in the process 
. The real question is what's next for Harris and Bieniemy, will they be able to replicate their success elsewhere? 
. He needs to surround himself with people who can help him refine his system and attract top talent 
) for him to push his team to be their best. And honestly, it's kinda awesome that people want to bring Bieniemy & Harris into other orgs 
The Bears will def bounce back from this 
.
. Bring on the next chapter for the Bears!
. Ben Johnson's got some nerve leavin' behind two of the best coaches on the team and expectin' them to just be happy for him 
. I mean, come on, Bieniemy and Harris were key players in his staff, and now they're gone? That's like him thinkin' he can just coast on his own talent without puttin' in any more work 
. The real challenge is finding a way to make it all work and keep growing from there