After the success of the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears lost a few of their top assistants on the coaching staff.
One of the top coaches they lost was running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who later became the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. Bieniemy was replaced by Eric Studesville as the new running backs coach.
The Bears' running game was one of the best in the NFL last year because of their running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and the work that Bieniemy did with them. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said so as much to the media at the NFL Combine, while maybe adding a little pressure on Studesville.
“Those are big shoes to fill," Johnson said via CHGO. "D’Andre Swift had his best year.”
Eric Studesville has a lot to live up to as new Bears running back
Johnson did go on to praise Studesville and is looking forward to working with him during the 2026 season. The two know each other well from their time as assistants on the Miami Dolphins coaching staff.
Last year's Bears running game was ranked third in the league with 144.5 yards per game. The heavy lifting was done by Swift, who rushed for a career-high 1,087 yards, and Monangai, who debuted in the NFL with 783 yards. The two backs combined for 14 touchdowns on the ground, and Swift caught another one through the air.
Studesville is no slouch as a coach, with nearly three decades of experience, and he has coached some great running backs. He has had seven running backs in the last 20 years rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.
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Bieniemy might have set the foundation for the Bears' running game in 2025, but Johnson is looking for Studesville to take them to the next level.