Chicago Bears Are Looking To Steal Another Packers Assistant
Head coach Matt Eberflus made waves from the moment he took over when he became the first Chicago Bears coach to openly pursue a Green Bay Packers assistant for his staff. He hired Luke Getsy to take over as the new offensive coordinator. The move showed immediate promise as the young assistant helped craft the NFL’s best running game with Justin Fields, Khalil Herbert, and David Montgomery. Now it appears Eberflus is hoping to poach another promising assistant away from his biggest rivals.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports revealed that Chicago requested permission to interview Packers passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Jerry Gray for an undefined position on their defensive staff. It is an unusual move since Gray wouldn’t be taking over as defensive coordinator. That job belongs to Alan Williams. The only open spot is defensive back coach after James Rowe departed to become defensive coordinator at USF. Gray is one of the most experienced and proven defensive back coaches in the NFL.
The Chicago Bears are right to have an interest in Gray.
His track record speaks for itself. He got started as a defensive backs coach in Tennessee, where he turned Samari Rolle and Blaine Bishop into Pro Bowlers. He did the same with Nate Clements, Terrence McGee, Sean Taylor, Alterraun Verner, Xavier Rhodes, and Harrison Smith in stops with Buffalo, Washington, Tennessee again, and Minnesota. His latest work might be his best as he turned Jaire Alexander, Adrian Amos, and Darnell Savage into one of the NFL’s best secondaries.
It isn’t hard to imagine what he might be able to do for Jaquan Brisker, Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, and Eddie Jackson. The Chicago Bears must think Gray’s contract is up, or he is looking for a way out of Green Bay. He’s spent three seasons with the Packers. Contracts tend to last three or four years, depending on the team. It’s possible Eberflus smells an opportunity and wants to pounce. One thing to note is he worked for several years in Minnesota with Kevin Warren. Maybe the new team president is pulling some strings. Gray would be an immediate asset to the coaching staff, bringing loads of experience with him.