The Chicago Bears took a hit when Eric Bieniemy departed for Kansas City. He’s one of the top running backs coaches in the league, and his fingerprints were all over Chicago’s ground game this past season.
With D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai leading the charge, the Bears finished with the third-best rushing attack in the NFL-no small feat in today’s pass-heavy league. But when the Chiefs offered Bieniemy a promotion and a familiar role, it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
That left head coach Ben Johnson with a key vacancy to fill-and not just any vacancy. In today’s NFL, where explosive plays and balance are at a premium, having the right voice in the running backs room can make all the difference.
Fortunately for the Bears, the timing worked out. When coaching shifts around the league created an opening, Johnson didn’t hesitate.
Enter Eric Studesville.
Studesville officially signed on as the Bears’ new running backs coach on Wednesday, marking a return to the franchise where he got his NFL start. He first joined Chicago in 1997 as a quality control coach and later coached wide receivers in 1999.
But it was in 2001, when he took over as a running backs coach in New York, that he found his true niche. Since then, he’s built a 25-year résumé developing backs across multiple teams and systems, and he’s done it at a high level.
There’s also familiarity here-Johnson and Studesville worked together in Miami during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. That kind of continuity matters. It means shared language, shared philosophy, and a mutual understanding of how to build a backfield that fits Johnson’s vision for this offense.
And let’s be clear: Studesville isn’t just a name with experience. He’s a coach with a proven track record of getting the most out of speed backs-something that aligns perfectly with Johnson’s offensive identity.
Back in Denver, Studesville helped Ronnie Hillman, a 4.45 runner, become a key contributor on a Super Bowl-winning team in 2015. In Miami, he coached Lamar Miller, who posted a 1,000-yard season in 2014 with 4.40 speed.
Most recently, he played a major role in the breakout of De’Von Achane-a third-round pick with 4.32 wheels-who exploded for 1,350 rushing yards last season in Miami. That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident.
Studesville knows how to unlock a runner’s potential, especially when that runner can fly.
It’s no secret that Johnson values that kind of speed in the backfield. He leaned into it in Detroit with Jahmyr Gibbs, a dynamic weapon who could turn any touch into a touchdown. The Bears even tried to move up in last year’s draft to grab TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State’s home-run hitter, before the Patriots snatched him off the board.
So while Chicago didn’t land their ideal speed back last offseason, it feels like only a matter of time before Johnson finds his guy. And when he does, Studesville will be the one tasked with molding him into a weapon.
This hire checks all the right boxes. It brings experience, familiarity, and a coaching style that fits seamlessly into what the Bears are building. With Studesville in the fold, Chicago’s rushing attack should stay right on schedule-even as the offense continues to evolve under Johnson’s leadership.