The Chicago Bears had a couple of positions to fill on their coaching staff following the departures of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, and Ben Johnson wasted no time filling one of those vacancies.
According to Brad Biggs, the Bears have hired veteran Eric Studesville as their new running backs coach, where he’ll get to work with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who are fresh off establishing Chicago as the third-best rushing attack in the NFL. Can Studesville continue to maximize Swift and Monangai? History says yes.
Here are five things to know about the Bears’ new running backs coach, who could be the latest slam-dunk hire for Johnson.
1. This is Studesville’s second stint with the Bears
This won’t be Studesville’s first time with the Bears after joining the team as a quality control assistant back in 1997 under former head coach Dave Wannstedt. Studesville spent four years with Chicago, where he served as wide receivers coach and assistant special teams coach from 1999-2000.
2. Studesville worked with Ben Johnson in Miami
Ben Johnson turned to an old friend when looking to fill the shoes of Eric Bieniemy at running backs coach. Johnson and Studesville spent time together with the Miami Dolphins’ staff in 2017 and 2018, where Studesville was the running backs coach and Johnson was the assistant wide receivers coach (2017) and wide receivers coach (2018). There’s definitely a familiarity there between Johnson and Studesville.
3. Studesville has found success with impactful running backs
Studesville’s resume speaks for itself, as he’s coached some great running backs during his coaching career. Marshawn Lynch, Willis McGahee, C.J. Anderson and Raheem Mostert all earned Pro Bowl honors will playing for Studesville. Also, there have been 12 running backs who have surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in a single season under Studesville, including McGahee (three times), Lynch (twice), Tiki Barber (twice), Anderson (once), Mostert (once), Knowshon Moreno (once), Fred Jackson (once) and most recently De’Von Achane (once). Now, he joins a Bears rushing attack where D’Andre Swift is coming off a 1,00-yard rushing season in a top-three run game.
4. Studesville boasts plethora of coaching experience
After getting his start with the Bears as a wide receivers coach and special teams coach, Studesville got his first opportunity to serve as running backs coach with the New York Giants (2001-03). He also had stops as running backs coach with the Buffalo Bills (2004-09), Denver Broncos (2010-16) and Miami Dolphins (2017-2025). Studesville also has served as an interim head coach with the Broncos (after Josh McDaniels’ firing in 2010) and the Dolphins’ co-offensive coordinator (2021) and associate head coach (2022).
5. Studesville won a Super Bowl with the Broncos
Studesville has spent time with several organizations, and he also has Super Bowl experience under his belt. Studesville won a world championship with the Broncos in 2016, where Denver defeated the Carolina Panthers, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50. In that game, running back C.J. Anderson had 23 carries for 90 yards, 3.9 average, and a touchdown for the Broncos.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 things to know about new Bears RB coach Eric Studesville
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
