Chicago Bears Might Bring Back An Old Friend

The Chicago Bears had an unexpected vacancy open up this past month when defensive backs coach James Rowe took an opportunity to become the new defensive coordinator at USF. Head coach Matt Eberflus must now find a replacement. It appears he’s aiming high. Already word has emerged the Bears requested permission to speak with Green Bay Packers defensive backs coach Jerry Gray. Now another established name has joined the list, and this one is far more familiar to fans.

The same names usually come up when thinking about the great Bears defenses of the mid-2000s and early 2010s. It starts with Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Charles Tillman. Then there was Nathan Vasher, Julius Peppers, Tommie Harris, and others. One person that played a prominent role during that era, who many forget, is Chris Harris. A 6th round pick in 2005, he became the starter a year later after Mike Brown went down with injuries. He collected six interceptions in those two years, including one of Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl.

Chicago traded him to Carolina in 2007. However, he returned in 2010, where he snagged five more interceptions, earning second-team All-Pro honors. He retired in 2013 and began a coaching career. Rising through the ranks in San Diego as an assistant defensive backs coach, the Washington Commanders made him their lead defensive backs coach in 2020. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Bears may wish to bring him home.

Harris is an obvious target for the Chicago Bears.

It isn’t merely for nostalgia purposes. The man has a deep background in the style of defense Eberflus and his staff employs. Harris played in the Lovie Smith Tampa-2 scheme for years and has coached a variation of it under Ron Rivera in Washington. That familiarity makes him an easy sell. He’d know exactly what is expected of the secondary upon arrival. It also doesn’t hurt he has been pretty good at his job. Over the past three seasons, Harris has helped multiple defensive backs have standout years. Kendall Fuller is one of the better slot corners in the NFL. Former 5th round pick Darrick Forrest snagged a team-leading four interceptions this past season.

It will be interesting to see how the Chicago Bears plan to lure Harris away from Washington should they receive permission. Eberflus may dangle the title of associate head coach in addition to his usual defensive backs job. That would result in a nice pay raise while also helping Harris further his aim of becoming a defensive coordinator and eventually a head coach down the line.