Green Bay targets Bears' defensive backs coach Al Harris for defensive coordinator. Will Chicago's rival poach a key piece of their acclaimed staff?
In an odd turn of events, it's the Green Bay Packers who are now trying to take one of the Chicago Bears' assistant coaches.
It was reported earlier this season that the Detroit Lions could be looking to lure one of the Bears' assistants away, but the Packers are that team instead.
Green Bay interviewed Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris for their defensive coordinator opening on Wednesday. The position was formerly held by Jeff Hafley, who left to become the Miami Dolphins' next head coach.
Harris coached Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright at the Bears, both of whom had solid interception numbers. Byard led the NFL with seven, while Wright had five.
Harris has plenty of experience with the Packers organization. He played cornerback for the Packers from 2003-09, reaching two Pro Bowls (2007-08) during that span. Harris is also in the franchise's Hall of Fame.
Chicago head coach Ben Johnson was asked about the possibility of losing assistant coaches this offseason and said it didn't surprise him, given how talented the staff is.
Johnson believes much of the team's success in 2025 was due in part to the assistant coaches.
"Well, I told the players this just a week or two ago, that it's rare 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, ideas, and so, I think they're a big reason for the success we were able to have and the games we were able to win."
Harris isn't the first coach that Chicago has had to replace this offseason. The Bears lost running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to the Kansas City Chiefs as their next offensive coordinator. Bieniemy was previously with the Chiefs for the same role from 2018-2022.
The Chiefs' OC in 2025 was former Bears head coach Matt Nagy.
Chicago OC Declan Doyle is another person from Johnson's staff receiving interest. The Philadelphia Eagles requested to interview him for their OC opening. Philadelphia fired Kevin Patullo to create the vacancy.
The fact that many teams are interested in Bears' assistant coaches is an excellent sign of where the franchise is headed. The hard part will be keeping the staff intact after the team's success in just one season under Johnson.