The Chicago Bears are winning again, and on the surface, stability defines everything around head coach Ben Johnson. A successful season, a playoff run, and a roster that finally looks like it belongs in the Super Bowl conversation—nothing appears broken. And yet, one quiet absence is lingering longer than expected.
Eric Bieniemy is gone.
There was no drawn-out farewell, no prolonged speculation. After Chicago’s painful divisional round loss, Bieniemy quietly returned to Kansas City to reclaim his role as offensive coordinator. For most franchises, that kind of departure would trigger immediate replacement rumors. In Chicago, however, the response has been… silence.
Weeks have passed, and the Bears still haven’t announced who will take over the running backs room. For a team built increasingly around balance and control, that vacancy feels oddly unresolved. It’s not panic-inducing—but it’s noticeable.
The Bears’ offense thrived in 2025, in part because of a rushing attack that finally found rhythm. D’Andre Swift delivered the best season of his career, while rookie Kyle Monangai emerged as a reliable complement.
Together, they helped stabilize an offense that no longer needed to chase games recklessly. Losing the coach who helped shape that growth is not a small detail, even if it’s being treated like one.
That’s where the whispers begin.
Chicago Tribune insider Brad Biggs floated a name that hasn’t been associated with the Bears in decades: Eric Studesville.
To casual fans, the name barely registers. To those who look closer, it feels intentional. Studesville worked for the Bears in the late 1990s, but more importantly, he shares professional history with Ben Johnson from their time in Miami.
This isn’t nostalgia—it’s familiarity.
Studesville’s résumé is quietly impressive. Over the last eight seasons in Miami, he wore multiple hats: running backs coach, run game coordinator, offensive coordinator, and eventually associate head coach. He’s not flashy, not loud, and rarely the headline. But players respond to him. Systems stabilize under him.
Most recently, Studesville played a key role in De’Von Achane’s explosive 2025 breakout, turning raw speed into consistent production. That success hasn’t gone unnoticed around the league.
Now, with Miami entering a new era under head coach Jeff Hafley, Studesville’s future is uncertain. And uncertainty is often where reunions begin.
The question isn’t whether Studesville could coach the Bears’ running backs. It’s whether Ben Johnson wants someone who already understands his philosophy—someone who doesn’t need to learn the system because he helped shape it elsewhere.
What makes this moment intriguing isn’t urgency, but restraint. Johnson isn’t scrambling. He isn’t signaling desperation. Instead, he’s waiting. And in the NFL, waiting often means something specific is being lined up behind the scenes.
Chicago doesn’t need reinvention. It needs continuity. The Bears are closer than they’ve been in years, and the smallest disruption could matter more than a blockbuster move.
So why does this quiet coaching vacancy feel heavier than it should?
Because sometimes, the most important decisions aren’t announced loudly. They happen in the background—while everyone else is celebrating progress, unaware that one phone call could subtly change the direction of a season.
And if Ben Johnson does make that call, the Bears’ next chapter might look very familiar… in ways fans aren’t fully prepared for.
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