Ben Johnson’s Bears Assistant Coach Search News and Rumor Tracker

The unexpected announcement of Ben Johnson being hired as the Chicago Bears head coach negated yesterday’s head coach report and rumor tracker we published in the morning. So, now that the Bears got their guy, I had to launch a fresh tracker for reports and rumors about his coaching staff.

Johnson could look to Detroit to bring an assistant with him to serve in a coordinator role in Chicago. The most rumored name is Lion offensive line coach Hank Fraley (update: this is likely not happening), who could come to the Bears as Johnson’s offensive coordinator. Two other rumored candidates for Johnson’s O.C. are quarterback coach Mark Brunell and passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand. I’ve heard that Johnson and Brunell are tight and that Engstrand is also an option to take over as offensive coordinator with the Lions.

For an extensive list of potential coaching connections throughout Johnson’s career, check out Aaron Leming’s article here.

It’s not anticipated that any of the current staff will remain in Chicago, and some have already begun interviewing with new teams.

The Rooney Rule applies to the three coordinator positions as well as the quarterback coach. Two minorities must be interviewed for a vacant coordinator position, and one minority must be interviewed for a QB coach position, with all of these being permitted to be virtual.

We’ll track all the reports and rumors relating to Ben Johnson’s first Bears coaching staff here:

• Per Brad Biggs, “A name to keep an eye on as Bears O-line coach is Dan Roushar. He spent 10 seasons with the Saints, where he worked with Dan Campbell. New Orleans had some top-tier O-lines. Roushar previously coached at Illinois & NIU. He’s currently at Tulane, where he’s been since 2023.”
• Chicago gets a second Lions assistant to come over as assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett appears to be the Bears’ new QB coach, per his own Instagram.
• The Bears are working on a deal to make former Lions wide receiver coach Antwaan Randle El their new assistant head coach/WR coach. (link) It’s kind of a courtesy thing for head coaches to allow one assistant to leave to join the new staff of an outgoing coach, so I would guess this is the only Detroit coach that joins the Bears.
• Bears plan to hire Al Harris as defensive passing game coordinator. He was the Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach and defensive backs coach last year. (link)

Check out Bill Zimmerman’s exclusive interview with Ben Johnson’s agent, Rick Smith, for the most transparent look at the head coach search process ever.

• Hank Fraley is getting promoted to run game coordinator/offensive line coach in Detroit.
• Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley will not be joining the Bears.
• Brad Biggs is hearing Denver Broncos tight end coach Declan Doyle as a possibility for the Bears offensive coordinator position. (link)
• Chicago defensive backs coach Jon Joke will not return. (link)
• Bears nickelback coach David Overstreet...