Ben Johnson Makes Another Outstanding Addition To Coaching Staff

Ben Johnson has been steadily piecing together an impressive coaching staff for the Chicago Bears. He already hired one of the top defensive coordinator options available, luring Dennis Allen. He also added Antwaan Randle El to handle the wide receivers and Al Harris for the defensive backs. Both are highly regarded across the NFL. Now Johnson has struck again, this time grabbing two-time Super Bowl champion Eric Bieniemy to take over the running back position.

Bieniemy was a huge part of Patrick Mahomes' ascend to NFL stardom in Kansas City, winning two championships together. He'd hoped to give his head coaching dreams a nudge by moving to Washington, where he'd call plays. Unfortunately, that didn't go as planned. He was fired after one season and then parted ways with UCLA after handling their offensive coordinator job for a year. Now he's coming back to the NFL, reuniting with Ryan Poles, who worked with him for years in Kansas City.

Ben Johnson benefits from the Bieniemy hire in several ways.

For starters, it adds championship experience to the staff. He's been on two teams that managed to win it all and knows the necessary work and sacrifices it takes to get there. Secondly, Bieniemy is a terrific running backs coach. He oversaw the drafting and development of Adrian Pederson into a superstar with the Minnesota Vikings. Then, with the Chiefs, he got a career-best season out of Jamaal Charles in 2013 and then oversaw the drafting and development of Kareem Hunt into a Pro Bowler.

Last but not least, Bieniemy brings insurance. While Ben Johnson might be the play caller, there is a possibility offensive coordinator Declan Doyle could get poached by another team if the offense has success in the near future. The Bears head coach must be prepared for that possibility. Bieniemy was a coordinator for six years in Kansas City and is familiar with not calling the plays in that role. It is a perfect succession plan for Chicago.