Dan Roushar is widely considered one of the best offensive line coaches in football. He proved that during his extended run with the New Orleans Saints when he churned out multiple eventual Pro Bowlers. After that, he went down to Tulane, where he helped their program become dominant at run-blocking almost immediately. New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson knew he needed somebody with credibility and a strong track record if he was going to turn around a line that gave up 68 sacks in 2024. Using his personal connections, he quickly landed on Roushar.
The difficult part was luring the 64-year-old to Chicago. Roushar had spent the previous decade in Lousiana, first with the Saints and then Tulane. He probably wasn't overly eager to move unless given adequate reasoning. Still, he was at least intrigued by Johnson, knowing his reputation from his rapid ascent in Detroit. So Roushar interviewed with the Bears. According to what he told Jeff Joniak on Bears Weekly, the head coach made an incredible first impression.
Dan Roushar recognizes Johnson is different.
Most offensive coaches understand the importance of the offensive line. It sounds like Johnson was the first one to thoroughly prove it by detailing to Dan Roushar how much he actually knows. Everybody says the Bears head coach has a reputation for being a wizard. The fact he has mastery of offensive line play tells you this. It isn't just about the quarterback with him. He is focused on every aspect of this offense. That told Roushar immediately that this was somebody who was going places. It might be wise to go along for the ride.
He believes the presence of Caleb Williams and Johnson's ideas will allow the Bears offensive line to be aggressive. Players are going to love this offense. No more playing the passive role of constant drop-back passes and slow-developing runs from shotgun. Johnson wants to go on the attack, and Roushard is eager to help him do it. They've already overhauled the offensive line room with new faces like Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. It might not be over yet, with the draft still to come. This season could be a fun one.
