Chicago Bears 🐻⬇️

Richard Smith is in his second year as the Bears Linebackers Coach in 2026.

Richard Smith is in his second year as the Bears Linebackers Coach in 2026.

Smith has over 45 years of coaching experience, with almost 40 of those years coming in the NFL. In his 39 NFL seasons, he has coached in 30 playoff games, including two during the Bears 2025 postseason run.

In his first season with the Bears, Smith led a linebacker room that featured LB Tremaine Edmunds who led the team with 112 tackles, becoming the fifth player to have 100+ tackles in each of his first eight NFL seasons since the stat began being tracked in 1987. Edmunds also contributed a career-high tying four interceptions, the third most by a linebacker in the NFL in 2025 and tied for the eight-most among all players. The linebacker room also featured veteran LB T.J. Edwards, and Week 14 NFC Defensive Player of the Week, LB D'Marco Jackson, both of whom each had an interception in the regular season, contributing to the Bears league-leading tally of 23 interceptions. Koch also has aided in the development of LB Noah Sewell over the past two seasons. In 2025, Sewell logged a forced fumble, adding to the Bears league-leading 33 total takeaways.

Before coming to Chicago, Smith led the linebackers group for the Indianapolis Colts from 2022-24, adding Run Game Coordinator responsibilities for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In Indianapolis, Smith led the development of LB Zaire Franklin. In his first year under Smith's direction, the fifth-year linebacker broke the Colts single-season tackling record, recording 166 takedowns (102 solo), far surpassing his old career high of 29 stops. Franklin then exceeded that total for each of the next two seasons, resetting the franchise record to 179 tackles (107 solo) in 2023 and recording 173 tackles (93 solo) in 2024 earning him his first Pro Bowl Games selection. LB E.J. Speed also saw significant growth under Smith's direction, setting a new career high in tackles all three seasons under Smith; 55 (23 solo) in 2022, 100 (76 solo) in 2023 and 142 (93 solo) in 2024. The linebacking duo of Franklin and Speed are one of just four pairs of teammates to total at least 100 tackles in each of the past two seasons (CHI: Edmunds/Edwards, CIN: Pratt/Wilson, JAX: Lloyd/Oluokun).

Smith led the Raiders linebackers' group in 2021, where he guided veteran LB Denzel Perryman to a career-high 154 tackles (102 solo), the sixth-most in the NFL, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Prior to his time with Las Vegas, Smith served as the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers for four seasons (2017-2020). During his time in Los Angeles, the Chargers secured a playoff spot in 2018 for the first time since 2013 and just the second time since 2010. In 2020, Smith guided rookie LB Kenneth Murray Jr. as he paced the team in tackles with 107, setting a franchise record for most tackles by a rookie and finishing second among rookies in his class. Smith was reunited with LB Thomas Davis Sr. in 2019, who he coached with the Carolina Panthers for two seasons. Under Smith's tutelage, Davis led the team with 112 tackles, while fourth-round rookie LB Drue Tranquill finished second on the squad with 75 tackles. Smith's group was instrumental to the defense's improvement against the run in 2018, as opponents averaged nearly 30 fewer rushing yards per game than the season before.

Smith spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-16). Smith's unit helped the Falcons claim the 2016 NFC Championship to earn a spot in Super Bowl LI. Under Smith's guidance, DE Vic Beasley recorded a league-leading 15.5 sacks in 2016. In 2015, Smith helped Atlanta's defense see a major improvement, going from 32nd to 16th in total defense.

From 2011-14, Smith coached on four straight playoff teams as the Linebackers Coach in his second stint with the Denver Broncos, including a 2013 squad that won the AFC Championship and earned a berth in Super Bowl XLVIII. During his four seasons with Denver, the Broncos ranked third in the league in rushing defense, fourth in third-down defense and seventh in total defense over that span. Smith helped develop LB Von Miller, who has become one of the NFL's most dominant defenders. Miller earned three Pro Bowl selections during his time with Smith, earned was named the 2011 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named first-team All-Pro in 2012.

Prior to joining the Broncos, Smith served as the Linebackers Coach with the Panthers for two seasons (2009-10). During his time in Carolina, the Panthers collected the third-most takeaways in the NFL. Smith also helped LB Jon Beason earn a Pro Bowl selection in 2009.

Smith had a three-year stint as the Defensive Coordinator for the Houston Texans (2006-08). During his time with the Texans, Smith's defense produced two Pro Bowlers and two second-team All-Pro performers in OLB DeMeco Ryans and DE Mario Williams. In 2005, Smith landed his first post as a Defensive Coordinator with the Miami Dolphins. That year, Miami finished the season ranked second in the NFL with 49 sacks.

Smith spent two seasons (2003-04) as the Assistant Head Coach and Linebackers Coach in Detroit after serving after coaching the linebackers in San Francisco from 1997-2002. During his six seasons with San Francisco, four 49ers' linebackers earned Pro Bowl honors — Ken Norton Jr., Lee Woodall, Winfred Tubbs and Julian Peterson.

From 1993-96, Smith coached special teams in his first stint with the Broncos, spending the first two years (1993-94) with the added duty of Assistant Linebackers Coach. Smith entered the NFL coaching ranks with the Houston Oilers from 1988-1992, handling special teams, while also assisting with the tight ends, linebackers and offensive line. During his time with the Oilers, Smith worked closely with Pro Football Hall of Fame OL Bruce Matthews and OL Mike Munchak.

Prior to entering the league, Smith spent nine years coaching at the collegiate level. Smith began his coaching career at his alma mater, Rio Hondo Junior College (Calif), coaching the offensive line for two seasons (1979-80). Smith also held coaching roles at Cal State-Fullerton (1981-83), Cal (1984-86) and Arizona (1987).

Smith played offensive line at Rio Hondo Junior College from 1975-76 before transferring to Fresno State in 1977 where he helped Fresno State capture the Pacific Coast Athletic Association title.

Smith has four children – Morgan, Aimee, Whitney and Travis – seven grandchildren and is married to his wife, Renee.