Chicago Bears Inject Ivy Leaguer Into Their Coaching Staff

The Chicago Bears aren't limiting their changes to only the roster this off-season. It appears their coaching staff is also getting a minor shuffle. Jon Hoke arrived to replace James Rowe as cornerback coach and passing game coordinator on defense. Next, Matt Eberflus had to find somebody who could take over for departed assistant offensive line coach Austin King who appears to have left the team for undisclosed purposes. After some careful searching, the Bears seem to have found their man.

Sam Phalen of A To Z Sports reported that Tennessee Titans run game analyst Luke Steckel would be departing the team after ten seasons to join Chicago.

"Tennessee Titans run game analyst and long-time offensive assistant Luke Steckel is preparing to leave the team for a role with the Chicago Bears on the offensive line staff, according to multiple sources.

Steckel spent the last two seasons as Tennessee’s tight ends coach before having his role changed earlier this month. When the Titans promoted Tim Kelly to be their next offensive coordinator, Mike Vrabel reshuffled deck, placing Steckel into an analyst role that he believed would allow Steckel to do advanced work with the entire offense rather than being tied to one position group."

At 37 years old, Steckel is a young up-and-coming coach. He graduated from Princeton in 2006 and spent a few years in the movie business. He returned to football in 2009 as an assistant in Cleveland and has steadily climbed the ladder since. His uncle, David Steckel, was a college coach and served under Gary Pinkel at Missouri. Bears fans might remember Eberflus also worked under Pinkel for several years.

The Chicago Bears made a wise investment.

Steckel is obviously a smart man as an Ivy League graduate. He is also the son of a former NFL coach, Les Steckel. He was in the league from 1978 through 2003, helping the New England Patriots (1985) and Tennessee Titans (1999) reach the Super Bowl. There is also the fact that Luke has served under Mike Vrabel for several years, one of the best head coaches in football. The man has gotten a first-class education. Adding him to the staff can only mean good things for the Bears, especially with an offensive line overhaul looming.

It is interesting to see how Eberflus has maintained his methods of bringing in young guys for his staff. Several members are still in their 30s or early 40s. The Chicago Bears head coach clearly wishes to keep a fresh infusion of energy and new ideas in the building. That isn't a bad thing. Being stuck in old ways is why the Bears have trailed so far behind for most of the past three decades.