Ben Johnson is the head coach. He is the one who will make or break the Chicago Bears moving forward. Everything flows through him. However, he’s not stupid. He understood that finding success as quickly as possible meant putting together the best staff. To that end, Johnson knew he couldn’t afford to play favorites. He couldn’t just hire his buddies. He had to find the most qualified guys, even if they might have differing opinions from him. That said, he did make one important exception.
Johnson made sure to bring Antwaan Randle El from the Detroit Lions with him. The wide receivers coach has worked magic the past few years, turning Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams into studs. It was hoped he could do the same for the young group Chicago was piecing together. By the look of things, his impact on the locker room is already showing. The Bears released a clip on social media of D.J. Moore going through passing drills with Caleb Williams. At one point, he takes a crossing route up the left sideline and ends up chasing Randle El.
Such clear joviality this early in the offseason is a good sign.
The Chicago Bears knew what they were getting.
Randle El brought so much to the table. First of all, he has a championship pedigree. He won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005, throwing a touchdown in the game. Then he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an assistant coach in 2019, helping them win the Super Bowl a year later. He’s earned a reputation for being detailed and demanding. He isn’t afraid to get vocal with players when they aren’t doing their jobs correctly. Williams found that out more than once in Detroit. However, he also has a charismatic side to him. He understands players and communicates well with them. It is why guys love him so much. The Chicago Bears wanted that on their staff and were prepared to pay whatever was necessary to get it. The results are already showing.
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