Antwaan Randle El, Eric Bieniemy and Al Harris are entering their first seasons as Bears position coaches. But that isn't the only thing they have in common.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, the three assistants were all accomplished NFL players, combining to appear in 479 games over 32 seasons.
“You don’t have to be a former player to be a good coach. There are a ton of good coaches that didn’t play. But I think it definitely helps.” Al Harris
Randle El was a dynamic receiver and return specialist with the Steelers (2002-05, 2010) and Washington (2006-09). In 2005, he helped Pittsburgh win Super Bowl XL and was named first-team All-Pro.
Before reaching the NFL, the Chicago area native played quarterback in high school and college. At Indiana, he was named first-team All-American, Big Ten MVP and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Joining Bears coach Ben Johnson's staff as receivers coach and assistant head coach, Randle El has continued to draw upon his playing experience.
"It's going to benefit us a lot, since he played at a high level and played multiple positions," said receiver DJ Moore. "He sees it from our vantage point, and he also sees it from the coaches' vantage point, so it's a mixture of both that we can learn from."
Randle El's background as a quarterback gives him unique insight into the receiver position and the offense in general.
"It's helped me just from the standpoint of I know where the ball is supposed to be," Randle El said. "I know what calls are supposed to be made in the run game; all those things because I played the position, so I see it differently versus just seeing it as a wide receiver.
"It's helped me tremendously. It helped me when I first got into the league. I appreciate the wide receiver getting to where he's supposed to be so the quarterback isn't holding the ball, because I was in that position in college. It's just all tied in together."
Bieniemy played running back for nine seasons with the Chargers (1991-94), Bengals (1995-98) and Eagles (1999). Appearing in 142 games, the Bears running backs coach rushed for 1,589 yards and 11 touchdowns on 387 carries and caught 146 passes for 1,223 yards.
"It's always good to have guys [coach] that have had an opportunity to play," Bieniemy said. "We understand our role. Our role is to be the best coach that we can be to help those young men in our room to go out and play at their very best and be the most accountable that they can be to help us accomplish the goals that we want to accomplish."
Running back D'Andre Swift has enjoyed learning from Bieniemy.
"It's good for the room, first and foremost," Swift said. "It always helps when you have a coach who has done it before. Everything he is asking of you he has done himself."
Swift has been most impressed with Bieniemy's attention to detail.
"The detail on everything jumps out to me," Swift said. "It's the little things—little things that are big things. It's the detail that comes with every single day, his energy and his football knowledge; he's very intelligent."
Harris played in 194 games over 14 seasons with the Eagles (1998-2002), Packers (2003-2009), Dolphins (2010) and Rams (2011). A two-time Pro Bowl selection, he registered 21 interceptions—three of which he returned for touchdowns—140 pass breakups and 470 tackles.
As Bears defensive backs coach/defensive passing game coordinator, Harris regularly taps into what he learned as a player.
"That's exactly what I fall on, because [there's] no better person to do that than if you've been in those situations," Harris said. "If I'm a truck driver, I want a truck driver to teach me. Not that someone who wasn't a truck driver couldn't teach me because they study it, but I rely on those experiences to inform the guys and mentor the guys."
When cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was preparing to visit the Cowboys prior to the 2023 draft, he researched Harris, who was Dallas' defensive backs coach at the time, seeking out his game highlights.
Now that they're together with the Bears, Stevenson is eager to learn from Harris.
"I think it's going to help me a lot because it's coming from a coach who played my position, did it at a high level and did a great job at it," Stevenson said. "He'll be able to provide little tips, like if your feet are pointed in a certain way.
"His résumé speaks for itself. He said today, 'I would never teach y'all anything that I didn't truly believe in myself and I didn't do in a game. I'm teaching you something that worked for me, and if you can add this to your game, it will help your game.'"
As a player, Harris recalls benefitting from being coached by former players such as Emmitt Thomas, Lionel Washington, Leslie Frazier and Herm Edwards.
"I think being that you've been in that situation, guys are going to be more open to listening to you," Harris said. "You don't have to be a former player to be a good coach. There are a ton of good coaches that didn't play. But I think it definitely helps."
