Windy City Gridiron - Chicago Bears 2022 New Staff Tracker A Chicago Bears communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49985/windy-fav.png2022-02-12T19:00:00-06:00http://www.windycitygridiron.com/rss/stream/226698002022-02-12T19:00:00-06:002022-02-12T19:00:00-06:00Matt Eberflus completes his Chicago Bears coaching staff
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<img alt="NFL: Chicago Bears-Head Coach Matt Eberflus Press Conference" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OrXSjS-nSntZkZDZYjCLs5s2tXM=/0x0:5894x3929/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70503095/usa_today_17594516.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="V0lq1l">The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> announced that they have completed all their hirings towards their 2022 coaching staff, and while we shared that list when they made their last two additions, we wanted to make sure you guys didn’t miss it. </p>
<p id="fQX5Cd"><strong>Here’s the full coaching staff for the 2022 Chicago Bears.</strong></p>
<p id="uFyvqg">Head Coach: Matt Eberflus</p>
<p id="LYh6o9">Offensive Coordinator: Luke Getsy</p>
<p id="yaceco">Defensive Coordinator: Alan Williams</p>
<p id="GebbjC">Special Teams Coordinator: Richard Hightower</p>
<p id="mI3OZn">Offensive Line: Chris Morgan</p>
<p id="Opo7Zl">Assistant Offensive Line: Austin King</p>
<p id="aZdOBm">Quarterback: Andrew Janocko</p>
<p id="Zab6dN">Wide Receivers/Passing game coordinator: Tyke Tolbert</p>
<p id="RHT2DP">Running Backs: David Walker</p>
<p id="mifHqV">Tight Ends: Jim Dray</p>
<p id="8CPED3">Assistant Tight Ends: Tim Zetts</p>
<p id="nfFfai">Offensive Quality Control: Omar Young</p>
<p id="CjgZ4g">Linebackers: Dave Borgonzi</p>
<p id="pfAlXg">Defensive Line: Travis Smith</p>
<p id="0i2TuN">Assistant Defensive Line: Justin Hinds</p>
<p id="T0XVqB">Defensive backs: James Rowe</p>
<p id="ZczS19">Safeties: Andre Curtis</p>
<p id="P1NJc9">Assistant DB: David Overstreet II</p>
<p id="Buuwn1">Assistant Special Teams: Carlos Polk</p>
<p id="zGJjnV">Coaching assistant: Kevin Koch</p>
<p id="SEFbCV">Defensive Quality Control: Ronell Williams*</p>
<p id="gT1iBN">Head strength and conditioning coach: Jim Arthur</p>
<p id="gakeyh">Assistant strength and conditioning: Anthony Hibbert*</p>
<p id="dt0D2V">Assistant strength and conditioning coach: Casey Kramer*</p>
<p id="ByNxM0"><em>* Holdovers from the previous regime</em></p>
<aside id="S7tYeE"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Bears hire Brent Salazar as Clyde Emrich Director of High Performance","url":"https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/15/22936529/chicago-bears-brent-salazar-clyde-emrich-hire-strength-and-conditioning-nfl-2022"}]}'></div></aside>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/12/22930967/matt-eberflus-completes-his-chicago-bears-coaching-staff-luke-getsy-alan-williams-richard-hightowerLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2022-02-11T23:04:29-06:002022-02-11T23:04:29-06:00Bears finalize coaching staff by adding 2 more assistants
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<img alt="NFL: FEB 08 Super Bowl LVI - Super Bowl Experience" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zY5MXLnUgDOjNnGV5QQ4AvMyuno=/0x2:7950x5302/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70500970/1238385403.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Chicago Bears 2022 coaching staff is complete.</p> <p id="CJYSaI">On Friday the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> announced that with the additions of assistant defensive line coach Justin Hinds and Kevin Koch as a coaching assistant, that head coach Matt Eberflus’ 2022 coaching staff is complete. </p>
<p id="emWDhp">Hinds will begin his first year as an NFL coach, but he has 13 years of experience, with his most recent time being spent as the 2021 defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Western Carolina, which is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Prior to that, Hinds was the defensive line coach at Central Michigan for two seasons. In 2018 he had the same title at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, and the two years prior to that he was the d-line coach and academic coordinator at Valdosta State. </p>
<p id="Pt183M">He was a graduate assistant at Florida in 2015 and at Mississippi State in 2014, and he worked with the defensive line at both stops. Hinds coached defensive linemen and outside linebackers at Wagner (2012-13), and the two years before that he was an assistant high school coach in New Jersey at Plainfield High (2010) and at Woodbridge High (2011). His first coaching gig was at his his alma mater, Rowan University, as a defensive assistant in 2009. </p>
<p id="ODa3r8">Koch, who is from Elmhurst, Illinois and played his high school ball at Immaculate Conception where he was a quarterback, has spent the last 5 years at Northwestern. He began there as a defensive grad assistant (2017-18), but was promoted to defensive quality control analyst the last three seasons.</p>
<p id="P8AchJ">In 2016 he was with Benedictine University where he spent time coaching tight ends, running backs, and he was their special teams coordinator, as well as heading up their recruiting efforts in the Chicagoland area. Before that he spent two years coaching at his alma mater, Minnesota State University Moorehead, where he coached the defensive backs and special teams. His coaching journey began in 2013 with Robert Morris University where as a grad assistant he worked with the running backs, offensive line, and tight ends.</p>
<h3 id="eRRMti">Here’s the full coaching staff for the 2022 Chicago Bears. </h3>
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<li id="eGSDC5">Head Coach: Matt Eberflus</li>
<li id="9uRofL">Offensive Coordinator: Luke Getsy</li>
<li id="nb8KGV">Defensive Coordinator: Alan Williams</li>
<li id="rIgj68">Special Teams Coordinator: Richard Hightower</li>
<li id="JTwjGf">Offensive Line: Chris Morgan</li>
<li id="WLfQuG">Assistant Offensive Line: Austin King</li>
<li id="wkSHAY">Quarterback: Andrew Janocko</li>
<li id="iGeEGj">Wide Receivers/Passing game coordinator: Tyke Tolbert</li>
<li id="Fy5Dx3">Running Backs: David Walker</li>
<li id="C8oPjU">Tight Ends: Jim Dray</li>
<li id="MwPN4x">Assistant Tight Ends: Tim Zetts</li>
<li id="n7doKf">Offensive Quality Control: Omar Young</li>
<li id="FSJcLl">Linebackers: Dave Borgonzi</li>
<li id="xGJDjR">Defensive Line: Travis Smith</li>
<li id="VbhSwY">Assistant Defensive Line: Justin Hinds</li>
<li id="S3NmM7">Defensive backs: James Rowe</li>
<li id="ph0xGr">Safeties: Andre Curtis</li>
<li id="xmsDB5">Assistant DB: David Overstreet II</li>
<li id="K1Hd9K">Assistant Special Teams: Carlos Polk</li>
<li id="Cgm26i">Coaching assistant: Kevin Koch</li>
<li id="h1wwiR">Defensive Quality Control: Ronell Williams*</li>
<li id="OVVe4w">Assistant strength and conditioning: Anthony Hibbert*</li>
<li id="8GQSQK">Assistant strength and conditioning coach: Casey Kramer*</li>
</ul>
<p id="jzjrxn"><em>* Holdovers from the previous regime</em></p>
<p id="D9nYtP">Once free agency and the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> concludes it’s likely that new general manager Ryan Poles will make some more changes to Chicago’s front office. Thus far his only high profile move has been to add assistant general manager Ian Cunningham. </p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/11/22930043/chicago-bears-finalize-coaching-staff-adding-2-more-assistants-justin-hinds-kevin-koch-matt-eberflusLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2022-02-11T11:45:00-06:002022-02-11T11:45:00-06:00Bears hire Carlos Polk as assistant special teams coach
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<img alt="Arizona Cardinals v San Diego Chargers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qv3XTXGDgkAKlbemGwXDWUcfYGA=/0x299:1521x1313/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70498485/73320980.0.jpg" />
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<p id="j6N8sn">On Friday the Chicago added another member to Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff, his seventeenth so far, in new assistant special teams coach Carols Polk. </p>
<p id="VNhHhV">Polk has been coaching since 2009, the first year his playing career ended, when he was hired as the assistant special teams coach Grossmont Junior College</p>
<p id="kKv9U8">In 2010 the team that initially selected him in the fourth round of the 2001 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a>, the San Diego <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Chargers</a>, hired him as their assistant special teams coach, and he stayed with the Chargers until 2012. </p>
<p id="YDsyCy">In 2013 he worked as a coaching intern for the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>, which was the team he spent his final year in the NFL with (in 2008). </p>
<p id="Ss0EIP">From 2014 to 2018 he was the assistant special teams coach for the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>, then in 2019 he was back in Dallas as their assistant special teams coach. He had that same role with the <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> last season. </p>
<p id="Dn5uJj">As a player he started just 6 of the 74 games he played in during his seven year career at linebacker, so he played plenty of special teams during his time in the league. He’ll now work along side Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower to build off of Chicago’s third phase success from a year ago. </p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/11/22929306/chicago-bears-hire-carlos-polk-as-assistant-special-teams-coach-cowboys-chargers-nfl-eberflusLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2022-02-10T15:58:12-06:002022-02-10T15:58:12-06:00Chicago Bears hire Andre Curtis as safeties coach
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<img alt="NFL: Pro Bowl-NFC Practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WhiIdsmoSXmay6zSTwVBEaHaTeI=/0x0:5268x3512/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70495058/usa_today_13943377.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="VBMPQ6">On Thursday the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> announced that they have hired Andre Curtis as their new safeties coach. Curtis now joins defensive backs coach James Rowe and assistant defensive backs coach David Overstreet II as secondary coaches under defensive coordinator Alan Williams. </p>
<p id="Qv5oBk">This will be Curtis’ 22nd year coaching football, and the 17th consecutive season he spent in the NFL. He was most recently with the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> where he was their Defensive Passing Game Coordinator from 2018 through the 2021 season. The Seahawks let Curtis and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. go last month. Prior to that he was Seattle’s defensive backs coach in 2017, and before that he served as their assistant secondary coach/safeties from 2015 to 2016. </p>
<p id="XkrhcD">His entire coaching career has been spent on the defensive side of the ball which started in college as the linebackers coach for Virginia Military Institute, his alma mater, from 2000–2003, before moving to the defensive ends at Georgia Southern from 2004 to 2005. </p>
<p id="MtuOCQ">His first gig in the NFL was with the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> as their defensive quality control coach from 2006 to 2008. It was then on to the St. Louis Rams as their DB coach from 2009 to 2011, before heading to the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> as their assistant secondary coach from 2012 to 2014.</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/10/22927995/chicago-bears-hire-andre-curtis-as-safeties-coach-matt-eberflus-alan-williams-seattle-seahawksLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2022-02-09T19:35:12-06:002022-02-09T19:35:12-06:00Bears Hire David Walker as RB Coach, Complete Primary Staffing
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<img alt="NFL: Detroit Lions-Minicamp" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UUH4s0ewDXtRry9HKwHdVNPdemI=/0x0:4180x2787/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70491275/usa_today_10875537.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>And just like that the Chicago Bears have wrapped up their coaching hires with the 52-year old veteran taking over the backfield. </p> <p id="6whayH">That was quick. </p>
<p id="1bycQR">Per <a href="https://twitter.com/CEmma670/status/1491578975394619396">Chris Emma from 670 the Score</a> the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> have hired David Walker for their Runningbacks coaching position. He previously served with the <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> at the same position from 2016 through 2018. This also wraps up the primary hiring cycle for Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff. </p>
<p id="IfOcdw">***EDIT: The Chicago Bears have <a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-hire-david-walker-as-running-backs-coach">officially confirmed the hiring</a> themselves***</p>
<p id="kHeX4J">David Walker has spent time coaching between high school, college, and the NFL. In addition, he was a legend at Syracuse, where he finished 4th all-time in rushing yards for the Orangemen. Current Bears Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy worked with David Walker at Pitt in 2010. </p>
<p id="m1lwv0">His two stints in the NFL were with the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> and the aforementioned Detroit Lions. Following the 2018 season, he decided to take time and step away from the game. He now returns to coaching with the Chicago Bears. </p>
<p id="LT7Iw7">There were a couple more hires made previously to the coaching staff earlier today as well. Two former assistants from the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> — Tim Zetts and Omar Young — were hired as an Assistant Tight Ends coach and Offensive Quality Control coach, respectively. In all Matt Eberflus has hired 15 assistants to his staff. </p>
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https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/9/22926433/chicago-bears-david-walker-detroit-lions-david-montgomery-khalil-herbert-nfl-offseason-2022Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter2022-02-08T18:31:11-06:002022-02-08T18:31:11-06:00Bears Hire Travis Smith as Defensive Line Coach
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<img alt="NFL: Oakland Raiders-Minicamp" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xSR-BH8k9ZGXSxfRVw1BlO9WISk=/0x0:5238x3492/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70486183/usa_today_10891173.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The former assistant of the Las Vegas Raiders heads to the Windy City and re-unites with Khalil Mack, among others.</p> <p id="zbuyf1">And then there was one - following today only the RB group position remains on the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a>’ coaching staff. The Bears <a href="https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-hire-travis-smith-as-defensive-line-coach">officially announced the hiring of Travis Smith</a> as their new defensive line coach moments ago. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to scoop the news. </p>
<p id="yU0Dds">Previously, Travis Smith was the assistant defensive line coach for the past three seasons with the <a href="https://www.silverandblackpride.com/">Las Vegas Raiders</a>. He originally was hired as a defensive assistant / quality control coach by Dennis Allen in 2012 with the (then) Oakland Raiders. In all he’s entering his 10th season in the NFL as an assistant. This will be Travis Smith’s first season as a top positions coach. </p>
<p id="2beAUv">He comes in as a well regarded coach and someone who was due for a promotion. Most notably, he has a great relationship with current Bears destroyer of worlds Khalil Mack. During the 2016 season Travis Smith spent a majority of his time working with position coach Jethro Franklin and the Raiders’ defensive line. That very season was when Khalil Mack won Defensive Player of the Year and made history as the only player to ever make the All-Pro roster at multiple positions. </p>
<p id="UeKZHq">Oh, the Raiders ran a 4-3 front during that time, for the tinfoil hat conspiracists that think Khalil Mack cannot play in a 4-3 front. </p>
<p id="cMuwQb">It wasn’t just Khalil Mack that excelled while working with Travis Smith despite multiple changes in staff and coaching philosophies. Bruce Irvin posted his best two seasons of his career between 2016 and 2017. Stalwart DT Johnathan Hankins returned to his familiar self after signing with the Raiders in 2018. Maxx Crosby has developed into an All-Pro defender and big money acquisition Yannick Ngakoue didn’t miss a beat. </p>
<p id="No4HEC">What I personally find most impressive is the list of defensive gurus he’s studied under. Names like Dennis Allen; Jack Del Rio; Gus Bradley; and Rod Marinelli all highlight his educational influences. It’s certainly within the realm of possibility that former Bears DC Rod Marinelli recommended Travis Smith to his former colleague, Matt Eberflus. Any stamp of approval from him alone is good enough for me. </p>
<p id="Qdqecd">Let’s see what he can do with Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn as his pass rushing tandem in 2022...</p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/8/22924440/chicago-bears-travis-smith-khalil-mack-rod-marinelli-bruce-irvin-defensive-line-nfl-offseason-2022Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter2022-02-07T20:42:03-06:002022-02-07T20:42:03-06:00Bears add Austin King as assistant offensive line coach
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<p id="grdKjR">On Monday the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> hired Austin King to work as their assistant offensive line coach. King was with the <a href="https://www.silverandblackpride.com/">Las Vegas Raiders</a> last season as their tight ends coach, and he worked as their offensive quality control coach in 2020 while mostly working with the offensive line.</p>
<p id="Tt9zGO">His coaching career started in 2012 with Toledo, Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus’ alma mater, where he was their offensive quality control assistant for a couple years, again mostly working with the o-line. He then moved on to Syracuse in 2014 with the same offensive quality control assistant title. He spent 2015 through 2019 with Dayton, first as their o-line coach and then as the Flyers’ offensive coordinator for his final three seasons. </p>
<p id="XZvg4X">King played collegiately at Northwestern and was drafted in the 4th round by the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a> in 2003. He finished his NFL career with the <a href="https://www.thefalcoholic.com/">Atlanta Falcons</a> from 2004 through 2006. </p>
<p id="W961bG">The only two position coaches Eberflus is yet to hire are running backs and defensive line, although there are sure to be some quality control and/or assistants, and some strength and conditioning coaches added as well.</p>
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https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/7/22922734/chicago-bears-austin-king-as-assistant-offensive-line-coach-atlanta-falcons-chris-morgan-eberflusLester A. Wiltfong Jr.2022-02-06T16:46:13-06:002022-02-06T16:46:13-06:00Bears Hire Jim Dray as Tight Ends Coach
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<img alt="Detroit Lions v Cleveland Browns" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zYg7KhU1LkYUhK5qqYW0ys0KZwM=/0x0:2060x1373/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70477869/1170578791.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by: 2019 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The fast riser has only been coaching in the NFL since 2018 as a quality control assistant.</p> <p id="AIiXoe">The <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> are wrapping up their coaching hires as yet another assistant has been hired. Per <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/1490446597435445248">Albert Breer of SI NFL</a>, they have hired Jim Dray as their new tight ends coach. He most recently served as an offensive quality control coach for the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> these past two seasons. </p>
<p id="SfDlXM">This is his first time coaching a specific position group after starting off as an offensive assistant and quality control coach. </p>
<p id="tjgj21">He’s also an experienced player at the position. Before coaching, he was selected by the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> in the 7th round of the 2010 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL draft</a>. In all, his NFL career as a player lasted 7 whole seasons, with stops between the Cardinals, <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a>, and <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a>. He hung up his cleats and started coaching as an assistant with Stanford in 2018. </p>
<p id="Qe9m1x">Since 2018 he’s already ventured around multiple NFL franchises. It is curious to see someone who learned briefly under Freddie Kitchens and Kliff Kingsbury as an assistant being hired to oversee the Bears’ tight ends position group. As the old saying goes, they’ve got to start somewhere, right? Time will tell how well his experience as a player translates into being a positional coach. </p>
<p id="pk6SEL">He <a href="https://twitter.com/ZERTZ_86">already has a big fan</a> in Cardinals Tight End Zach Ertz. Now we’ll see if he can untap the potential of Cole Kmet, or other players to be brought into the group in the near future. </p>
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/2/6/22920956/chicago-bears-hire-jim-dray-tight-ends-cleveland-browns-arizona-cardinals-nfl-offseason-2022Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter