The Bears lost two key coaches… and the internet exploded.
But inside Halas Hall, Ben Johnson isn’t flinching — he’s doubling down.
Ben Johnson Explains Coaching Staff Shake-Up — And Why He’s Not Worried About the Backlash
In today’s NFL, keeping a playoff coaching staff intact is almost impossible. Assistants get poached. Coordinators get promoted. Stability disappears overnight.
Yet the Chicago Bears only lost two essential coaches this offseason.
That’s the good news.
The headline-grabbing news? The replacements sparked instant debate.
At the NFL Combine, head coach Ben Johnson finally addressed the noise — and made it clear he’s confident in his decisions, regardless of what fans in Jacksonville or Philadelphia might be posting.
“You Lose Two Really Good Coaches”
Johnson didn’t minimize what the Bears lost.
“You lose two really good coaches in Eric Bieniemy and Declan Doyle,” he said. “I can’t say enough about either one of those two guys.”
Doyle is now the Ravens’ play-calling offensive coordinator.
Bieniemy has returned to Kansas City as offensive coordinator, a role he held from 2018 to 2022.
Johnson emphasized he supports assistants chasing bigger opportunities.
“If they find another role or another job they want to take a shot at, then I’m all for it.”
That’s leadership — not insecurity.
But replacing them? That’s where the spotlight turns.
The Press Taylor Decision That Lit Up Social Media
Promoting Press Taylor from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator immediately triggered skepticism online.
Jaguars and Eagles fans were quick to recall his uneven results as a play-caller in Jacksonville, where the offense fell from 13th in scoring to 26th.
But here’s the key detail critics keep overlooking:
Press Taylor will not call plays in Chicago.
Ben Johnson calls the plays.
The offensive coordinator role in Chicago is about organization, continuity, and ensuring the system runs smoothly when Johnson isn’t in the room.
“I’m not in every single staff meeting,” Johnson explained. “The understanding is nothing skips a beat when I have to leave the room.”
Taylor already proved he can handle that responsibility.
“Press in particular was a guy that checked all the boxes,” Johnson said. “Very smart. Very detailed. Did some things behind the scenes people probably don’t realize.”
Most importantly?
“He’s got the respect of these players.”
For a young quarterback like Caleb Williams, that continuity matters.
Taylor worked closely with Williams last year. Promoting him keeps terminology, preparation, and communication stable — a critical factor in a quarterback’s second-year development.
Replacing Eric Bieniemy: A Different Style, Same Standard
The second major change came at running backs coach.
Eric Bieniemy, known for his intensity and no-nonsense approach, helped oversee a backfield that lost just two fumbles from D’Andre Swift all season and none from rookie Kyle Monangai.
Ball security was elite.
Now, Eric Studesville steps in.
Johnson has history with him dating back to their time together in Miami. Studesville brings experience and a different personality, but the standards won’t drop.
Miami’s backs last season fumbled four times but lost only one.
If Chicago remains near the top of the league in rushing — they were third last year — the transition will be viewed as seamless.
Johnson’s Bigger Vision: Building Future Leaders
What might be most revealing about Johnson’s explanation isn’t about Taylor or Studesville specifically.
It’s about philosophy.
“When you put together a staff, you want to see — can young coaches become position coaches? Can position coaches become coordinators? Head coaches one day?”
Johnson isn’t just hiring for now.
He’s building a coaching pipeline.
That includes offensive analyst Will Lawing and several other younger staff members he believes can rise through the ranks.
In a league where turnover is constant, developing internal leaders is strategic insurance.
Why the Criticism May Be Misplaced
Much of the backlash surrounding Press Taylor stems from his past as a play-caller.
But in Chicago, he won’t hold that responsibility.
Under Doug Pederson in Jacksonville, Taylor inherited play-calling duties during a period of offensive inconsistency. In Chicago, the structure is different. Johnson remains the architect and the decision-maker.
That distinction changes the equation.
And Johnson made it crystal clear:
“I’ve got nothing but immense confidence.”
The Real Test Ahead
The Bears were disciplined, detail-oriented, and productive in 2025.
If they duplicate — or exceed — that level in 2026, these staff changes will fade into background noise.
If they stumble, critics will circle back to this moment.
But make no mistake:
This wasn’t a reactionary move.
It was calculated.
And Ben Johnson is betting his credibility that the culture, attention to detail, and offensive continuity remain intact — even with new faces in key roles.
The internet may question it.
Johnson doesn’t.
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