The Chicago Bears had the worst coaching staff in the NFL by miles in 2024. Nobody could dispute it. They also never would’ve guessed it would transform into one of the best within a matter of months. Most of the buzz surrounds head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who have worked levels of magic this organization hasn’t seen in decades. However, it goes deeper than that. Johnson has also assembled a terrific support staff. Al Harris has done incredible work with a banged-up secondary, but the true honor must go to Dan Roushar, their new offensive line coach.
Chicago surrendered 68 sacks last season. It was one of the worst offensive line performances in NFL history. Fast forward to this year, and the group has allowed 17 sacks in 11 games. Part of it is their talent upgrades, but everybody agrees Roushar’s influence has been essential. The best part is how it all happened. Bears fans probably don’t know, but that hire nearly didn’t come to pass. Roushar had chosen to retire. However, a phone call from Johnson and a harsh nudge from his wife changed that.
> Directing the unit behind the scenes is 65-year-old Dan Roushar, **who was about a month into retirement when the opportunity came along**. He’s an old-school coach with a knack for reaching Gen Z, and while he’s not particularly interested in sharing his story, it’s quite a tale of commitment to the craft for a guy from Clinton, Iowa, who grew up a Bears fan and played quarterback at Northern Illinois…
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> …When Johnson called Roushar, **he had recently retired after a two-year stint as Tulane’s offensive line coach**. The pull back into the business was too much to resist for Roushar, who initially transitioned into a student assistant role at NIU under Bill Mallory in 1983 and continued in that role the next year under Lee Corso…
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> …When Tulane’s season ended with the Gasparilla Bowl last Dec. 20, Roushar figured it had been a heck of a 41-year run, one that included a decade with the Saints, two stints each at Illinois and NIU and five other college stops.
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> Five weeks later — out of the blue — Johnson called with a question: Is this something you are interested in?
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> “As I said to my wife, ‘We could be traveling and doing these wonderful things,’” Roushar said. “And she said, ‘**We wouldn’t be doing any of that**.’
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> “Coach (Johnson) reached out to me, and this story unraveled.”
Bears fans owe the wife of Dan Roushar several drinks.
If not for her blunt honesty, the team may not have landed one of the best offensive line coaches in the business. It certainly helps that Dan Roushar grew up a Bears fan. That at least offers hope that he’ll stick around for a while. Being 65 years old makes it uncertain how long he will keep doing this. The one accomplishment that has eluded him in a 41-year career is a Super Bowl. Perhaps he will see Chicago as an opportunity to keep chasing that dream a little longer.
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Whatever the case, his influence can’t be understated. All of the offense’s success this year can be attributed in some form or fashion to him. Darnell Wright is playing like a Pro Bowler. Drew Dalman is having his best season. Jonah Jackson has regained his old form. Ozzy Trapilo had a tremendous game in his first start. Everything looks great.
