The Chicago Bears added a relatively familiar face to Ben Johnson’s staff on February 4, hiring veteran assistant Eric Studesville as their new running backs coach to replace Eric Bieniemy. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune was first to report the news.
Studesville is well-respected in and around the league. He spent the last nine seasons with the Miami Dolphins, coaching running backs while also holding a string of other titles, including run game coordinator and later, assistant/associate head coach.
It’s his second time serving as an assistant in the Windy City. Studesville’s first NFL opportunity came in Chicago through the league’s minority coaching fellowship pipeline, and he worked with the Bears in the late 1990s and in 2000.
Studesville also has ties to head coach Ben Johnson. Studesville overlapped with the current Bears coach during Johnson’s early years in Miami, a connection that likely played a part in his hiring.
More on Chicago Bears Hiring Eric Studesville as Their New RBs Coach
GettyThe Chicago Bears have hired a new RBs coach to replace Eric Bieniemy: Eric Studesville.
Studesville’s track record is long and impressive. While with Miami, he helped get big seasons from multiple backs over the years, including a career year for Raheem Mostert in 2023 and a career-best season for De’Von Achane in 2025.
Here’s a complete look at Studesville’s coaching career:
- 1991 — University of Arizona: Graduate assistant
- 1992–93 — North Carolina: Video assistant
- 1994 — Wingate: Secondary coach
- 1995–96 — Kent State: Secondary coach
- 1996 — Chicago Bears: NFL minority coaching fellow (training camp)
- 1997–98 — Chicago Bears: Offensive quality control / offensive assistant
- 1999–2000 — Chicago Bears: Wide receivers coach / assistant special teams coac
- 2001–03 — New York Giants: Running backs coach
- 2004–07 — Buffalo Bills: Running backs coach
- 2008–09 — Buffalo Bills: Run game coordinator / running backs coach
- 2010–16 — Denver Broncos: Running backs coach
- 2010 — Denver Broncos: Interim head coach (final four games
- 2017 — Denver Broncos: Assistant head coach / running backs coach
- 2018 — Miami Dolphins: Run game coordinator / running backs coach
- 2019–20 — Miami Dolphins: Running backs coach
- 2021 — Miami Dolphins: Co-offensive coordinator / running backs coach
- 2022–25 — Miami Dolphins: Associate/assistant head coach / running backs coach
- 2026–present — Chicago Bears: Running backs coach
Before his stint in Miami, Studesville worked with several quality running backs, including Willis McGahee in Denver, Tiki Barber in New York and Marshawn Lynch in Buffalo.
Now, he’ll get a dynamic one-two punch in Chicago with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
A Closer Look at What Studesville Did With Dolphins Last Season
The Bears had one of the best run games in the NFL last season. As a team, they ran the 505 times for 2,456 yards (4.9 yards per carry) scoring 19 rushing touchdowns. That averages out to about 29.7 carries and 144.5 rushing yards per game over 17 games.
Miami’s run game was very efficient, but lighter on volume. The Dolphins had 432 carries for 2,044 yards (4.7 YPC) with 14 rushing TDs (about 25.4 carries and 120.2 rushing yards per game).
There was an interesting difference when it comes to explosiveness, though. Miami had 16 runs of 20+ yards and four runs of 40+, with a longest rush of 59. Chicago had 11 runs of 20+ and zero 40+ runs, with a long of 39, courtesy of Monangai. It’ll be interesting to see if Studesville brings a more boom-and-bust style to the room.
The Bears lost a top assistant in Bieniemy, but they shouldn’t see much drop off at all with Studesville leading the group.
Bears Bring Back Familiar Face to Join Ben Johnson’s Staff: Report