(104.3 The Score) Bears head coach Ben Johnson has rounded out his coaching staff for the 2026 season with several new hires to the offensive side while retaining his entire defensive staff.
The Bears on Wednesday officially announced former passing game coordinator Press Taylor's promotion to offensive coordinator and announced the hirings of running backs coach Eric Studesville, offensive analyst Will Lawing and offensive quality coach Isaiah Ford.
Taylor was tabbed as the Bears’ new offensive coordinator earlier in February in a move that sustained continuity for the team. He was previously the passing game coordinator in Johnson’s first season and will replace Declan Doyle, who left to become the Ravens’ offensive coordinator. Doyle will call plays in Baltimore, an opportunity he didn't have in Chicago.
Previously, Taylor was an offensive coordinator for four seasons, first with the Colts in 2021 and then the Jaguars from 2022-'24. Johnson will remain the Bears’ play-caller on offense.
Studesville is on his second stint with the Bears after working for Chicago from 1996-2000. He was the Dolphins’ running backs coach for the last eight seasons, overlapping with Johnson in Miami in 2018. He replaces Eric Bieniemy, who left to become the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
Lawing was the offensive coordinator at Boston College for the last two years before leaving for this new role with the Bears. He was a college teammate of Johnson's at North Carolina. As offensive analyst, Lawing will help Johnson lead the offense and balance his roles as a play-caller and head coach.
Ford was a seventh-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who played 32 career games in the league. He spent part of the 2023 campaign with the Bears. Johnson coached Ford while he was in Miami.
With the coaching carousel nearly complete this offseason, the Bears have retained their entire defensive coaching staff. Secondary coach Al Harris was a candidate for defensive coordinator jobs around the league, including one with the Packers, but he remained with the Bears.
Following a breakthrough season in which the Bears went 11-6 to win the NFC North and then won their first playoff game in 15 years, Johnson lauded the work of his coaching staff while expressing hope that assistants would land promotions elsewhere.
The Bears were prepared for Doyle, Bieniemy and other staff members to depart for other jobs.
"I see future head coaches on this staff, I see future coordinators, I see these young coaches being future position coaches,” Johnson said in January. “I see that all across the board.
“This is a five-star staff.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for TheScoreChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.