The exodus from the Detroit Lions coaching staff shows no signs of slowing down.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Antwaan Randle El is set to join the Chicago Bears as their new assistant head coach and wide receivers coach. This marks one of the first major hires for Ben Johnson, who recently became the Bears’ head coach after a successful tenure as the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
Randle El spent three seasons as the Lions’ wide receivers coach, following two years as an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His new role in Chicago, with the added title of “assistant head coach,” represents a significant career advancement.
Johnson, known for his exceptional work building a potent offense around Jared Goff in Detroit, now looks to replicate that success in Chicago, potentially building a system around Caleb Williams. Hiring familiar faces like Randle El suggests Johnson values continuity and shared vision.
For the Lions, this offseason has been a challenging one. In addition to losing Johnson and Randle El to a division rival, they also saw defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn depart to become the head coach of the New York Jets.
This talent drain highlights a common challenge for successful teams in the NFL: their top coaches become hot commodities.
Despite these losses, Detroit remains in a strong position. With Detroit Lions at the helm and a competitive roster in place, the Lions’ championship window remains open. However, rebuilding the coaching staff will be a critical task for the offseason.
