With new head coach Matt Nagy being hired on Jan. 8, the Bears were only the second team to hire a new head coach. But really the first because we all knew Jon Gruden was going to Oakland. Nagy hasn’t wasted any time filling his coaching staff either, hiring almost all of his offensive staff already. As for the defensive staff, since defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was re-signed on Jan. 12, everything will pretty much stay the same.
The first hire Nagy made was to bring in offensive line coach Harry Hiestand just two days after being hired. Hiestand served that same position in Chicago from 2005 to 2009. The Bears went to a Superbowl during that time, in the 2006 season. He then went to South Bend, where he coached the O-line from 2012 to 2017, producing numerous draft picks in his time for the Fighting Irish. An offensive tackle, Ronnie Stanley was drafted number six in 2016 by the Baltimore Ravens.
Nagy then made four additions to his staff two days later on Jan. 12. He hired running backs coach Charles London, wide receivers coach Mike Furrey, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, and most importantly, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich.
London, previously the Bears offensive quality coordinator from 2007 to 2009 and running backs coach for the Texans from 2014-2017, worked with the likes of Arian Foster and Alfred Blue during his time in Houston.
Furrey, who was a receiver for eight seasons in the NFL, was most recently the head coach at Division II school, Limestone College in South Carolina.
Chris Tabor who most recently was the Browns special teams coordinator from 2011 to 2016, was also with the Bears as their special teams coach from 2008 to 2010, back when Devin Hester was in Chicago.
Helfrich, who is getting his first crack at the NFL was the head coach for the Oregon Ducks from 2013 to 2016. He is credited with developing now Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, in his college days. Helfrich also lead the Ducks to a national championship game in 2014, where they were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-20.
Then a day later, Nagy made his most recent hire, tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride. Gilbride has been the tight ends coach for the Giants for the last four seasons. We’ll see if Gilbride is the right guy to help develop the Bears’ promising rookie Adam Shaheen.
Nagy has moved quickly in filling out his coaching staff. He has hired a total of six coaches in a span of only four days. Let’s hope he can bring wins as fast as he can hire coaches.
Werner's Words 