The Green Bay Packers are not the only team threatening to hire away one of Ben Johnson’s top defensive assistants during the 2026 NFL offseason.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, Chicago Bears defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Al Harris will interview with the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, January 24, for the defensive coordinator job on new head coach Robert Saleh’s staff.
The Packers have also interviewed Harris for the defensive coordinator role that opened up on Matt LaFleur’s staff when Jeff Hafley agreed to become the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins earlier in the week. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harris had his interview with the Packers on Wednesday, January 21 — his only interview at the time.
If the Packers feel strongly that Harris is the best fit for their coordinator opening, they could attempt to sign him to a contract before he has a chance to meet with the Titans.
Unfortunately for the Bears, though, there is quite a bit of incentive for Harris to accept one of the positions if offered to him. Either role would offer him a title bump, while the Packers’ job would also presumably allow him to try his hand as a defensive play-caller.
In any case, Johnson should know in the next few weeks how many new coaches he will need to hire for his second-year Bears coaching staff for the 2026 season.
Al Harris Made Impact in 2025 as Bears’ DBs Coach
Harris played a key role in helping the Bears lead the league in interceptions (23) with two of his defensive backs — safety Kevin Byard III and cornerback Nahshon Wright — finishing No. 1 and tied-for-No. 2, respectively, among the 2025 interception leaders.
He also helped the Bears’ cornerback group weather the storm of playing without its top two players — Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon — for most of the year due to injuries. Johnson missed 10 games, while Gordon missed 14 with two stints on injured reserve.
Anyone who had followed Harris’ coaching career before he arrived in Chicago should not find his effect on the Bears too surprising. He had a similar impact with the Dallas Cowboys as their defensive backs coach, developing Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland into All-Pros. The Cowboys had double-digit interceptions in each of his five years on staff.
Now, the Bears just have to hope that Harris finds it more appealing to run it back with them in 2026 — with Johnson and Gordon both healthy — before continuing his climb.
Bears Could Lose Multiple Coaches to Hiring Cycle
The Bears would take a definite hit if they lost Harris, especially if he took his talents to the Packers — with whom he was a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback during his career. He is not the only coach on Johnson’s staff with a pending interview elsewhere, though.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bears granted the Philadelphia Eagles‘ request to interview offensive coordinator Declan Doyle for their offensive coordinator job, one that would offer him play-calling opportunities that he would not have under Johnson.
“Chicago offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is a name to watch,” Fowler wrote. “The Bears did not block Philly’s request to interview Doyle, which means he’s free to make the lateral move. Some see him as head coach material, and this job can be a springboard if the new playcaller improves [quarterback Jalen] Hurts’ performance.”
The Bears also already lost one offensive coach when the Kansas City Chiefs re-hired Eric Bieniemy — Chicago’s running backs coach in 2025 — to become their offensive coordinator for the 2026 season. Bieniemy played a key role in the Bears’ third-ranked rushing offense in 2025 and the development of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
Bears Top Assistant to Interview for AFC Job Amid Packers Interest