The Chicago Bears are heading into the offseason with an unexpected vacancy on their coaching staff. After a promising 2025 campaign under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears are now in the market for a new running backs coach. That’s because Eric Bieniemy, who helped guide a productive backfield this past season, is heading back to Kansas City-this time as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
Bieniemy’s departure is a significant one. He played a key role in maximizing the talents of D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai, both of whom thrived in Chicago’s offense.
Swift looked rejuvenated, and Monangai emerged as one of the league’s most pleasant surprises. Whoever steps into the role next won’t be starting from scratch-they’ll be inheriting a backfield with serious upside.
Now, there hasn’t been much public buzz about who could take over for Bieniemy, but a recent move in Cleveland could open the door for a familiar face to return to the NFC North. The Browns named Todd Monken their new head coach on Wednesday, and with that, the future of their current running backs coach, Duce Staley, is suddenly uncertain.
Here’s where things get interesting for the Bears.
Staley spent two seasons with the Detroit Lions (2021-2022) as assistant head coach and running backs coach-working directly under then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. That connection alone makes him a name to watch.
But it’s not just the familiarity with Johnson that makes Staley an intriguing candidate. It’s his track record.
During his time in Detroit, Staley helped guide Swift through two of the more productive seasons of his early career. In 2021, Swift racked up over 1,000 scrimmage yards and scored seven total touchdowns.
He followed that up with another strong campaign in 2022, despite sharing snaps, finishing with 931 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. Staley also played a pivotal role in Jamaal Williams’ breakout season that same year-Williams bulldozed his way to 1,066 rushing yards and a league-best 17 rushing touchdowns.
That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. Staley knows how to get the most out of his backs, whether they’re seasoned veterans or still finding their footing in the league.
Fast forward to now, and Swift is a more mature, more complete player than he was in those Detroit years. His familiarity with Staley’s coaching style could make for a seamless transition if the Bears were to bring him aboard.
And then there’s Monangai, who turned heads as a rookie and looks like he’s just getting started. He may have been a seventh-round pick, but his play told a different story-one of power, vision, and untapped potential.
If Staley were to land in Chicago, it’s easy to envision him elevating Monangai’s game even further. With Swift entering a contract year in 2026, Monangai could be positioning himself as the Bears’ future lead back.
Having a coach like Staley guiding that development? That’s the kind of move that could pay dividends not just next season, but for years to come.
Of course, Staley won’t be without options. Other teams are likely to come calling, and the Bears will need to act decisively if they want to bring him into the fold. But the fit makes sense: a coach with a proven track record, a connection to the head coach, and past success with the team’s top back.
The Bears have a chance to make a savvy hire here-one that could help keep their offense trending upward in Year 2 of the Ben Johnson era. Now it’s just a matter of whether they make the move before someone else does.