Ben Johnson got honest about potentially losing members of Bears coaching staff

Bears coach Ben Johnson deserves plenty of credit for the Chicago Bears’ 2025 season. 

The first-year coach helped create a culture built on accountability and belief. The players took those core concepts and brought physicality to every time they stepped onto the football field. 

With the foundation set, the Bears won 11 games, clinched the NFC North, and defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round. Even though the Bears fell short of reaching the Super Bowl after the Los Angeles Rams defeated them 20-17 in overtime in the Divisional Round, it was still a successful first season for Johnson's team. 

One of the realities of having a successful NFL season is that other teams will inevitably request interviews with members of the coaching staff and potentially add them to their own teams. That's exactly what is happening right now to Johnson's staff. 

Bears coaches getting plenty of chances to earn new jobs in offseason

Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy has agreed to terms with the Chiefs to become their offensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Bieniemy helped running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai lead a room that finished as the No. 3 running team in the NFL. Bieniemy helped running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai lead a room that finished as the No. 3 running team in the NFL. 

And Bieniemy might just be the first of several assistant coaches and coordinators who could end up on a new team next season. 

Defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach Al Harris has already interviewed with the Green Bay Packers for their defensive coordinator position, and he is set to interview for the same position with the Washington Commanders. The Eagles requested to interview offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for their offensive coordinator position, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

The Atlanta Falcons requested to interview Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham for their general manager position. 

It's not surprising that other teams want a piece of what helped the Bears have a successful 2025 NFL season. Although losing those individuals will hurt the team, Johnson is all for his staff getting these opportunities. 

“I told the players this just a week or two ago that it’s rare that in year one that you feel like you have a five-star staff, and yet that's what I believe’” Johnson said. “Just over the course of the season, seeing how they conducted themselves, what they sacrificed, the time they put in. We got a great collection of coaches. It's the right mix of experience, energy and ideas. I think they're a big reason for the success that we were able to have and the games that we're able to win. To your point, I do think it's a lot. I see future head coaches on this staff. I see future coordinators. I see these young coaches being future position coaches. I see that across the board. 

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So, when you have success and you win games, normally that's what happens. I know we already have some slips coming through that other teams would like to interview some of our guys. And I'm all for it, man. I want these guys to continue to ascend. Anything I can do to help them out. I think they all know I'm more than willing to do that. But a big part of what this collection of guys brought to the table was they all wanted to be here. You know, that was a big thing for me. I want guys that want to be here. So if a guy wants to continue to build upon what we started then, then I would love that as well. But this is a five-star staff, and it's no surprise to me that we got a number of coaches that are garnering interest right now.”