CHGO Digest: Ben Johnson fills coordinator openings

Good morning!

Who asked for this? Who asked for a repeat of Chiefs-Eagles?

Don’t get me wrong; it’s cool that Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City can become the first team to three-peat, and it would be cool to watch Saquon Barkley cap off one of the most successful rushing seasons in NFL history with a Lombardi Trophy.

But I don’t think I’m on an island when I say I was hoping to see Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on the big stage in New Orleans. Where do the Bills even go from here? Allen played MVP-caliber football all year, while Mahomes and the Chiefs looked like a much weaker version of the team that had won the past two Super Bowls.

Yet, Kansas City still won 15 games in the regular season and became the first team to ever make five Super Bowls in a six-season stretch, while Allen and the Bills lost to Mahomes for the fourth time in the playoffs.

Seriously, what would you do with Sean McDermott if you were the Bills? He’s 86-45 in eight regular seasons with Buffalo and 7-7 in the postseason. But four of those seven losses are against Mahomes, and he just can’t seem to push the Bills over the hump into the Super Bowl.

Maybe I’m just a little jealous. Last night was Mahomes’ 12th career playoff win at Arrowhead Stadium. Do you know how many playoff wins the Bears have at home since moving to Soldier Field in 1971? Seven!

If Mahomes and the Chiefs beat the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in two weeks, he’ll have more Super Bowl victories (4) than postseason losses (3)!

You know what’s worse? If he picks up his 18th career postseason victory on Feb. 9, he’ll have more than the entire Chicago Bears franchise (17). He is 29—one year older than the Bears’ new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle… come on!

I guess our (yes, I’m lumping you in with me) hopes and dreams are in the hands of the fine folks at PHLY. Please—do not let us down.

E-L-G-S-E-S, Eagles!

— Patrick Norton

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Bears make staff hires

Ben Johnson’s staff is coming together. On Friday, reports surfaced that Chicago would add former wide receiver Antwaan Randle El to Johnson’s offensive staff as wide receivers coach and assistant head coach. Randle El has been with Johnson in Detroit as the Lions’ receivers coach.

Later that night, former Ohio State Buckeye and assistant quarterbacks coach in Detroit, J.T. Barrett, switched his biography on Instagram to reflect his new job: “QB coach @chicagobears”.

Additionally, Johnson also reportedly poached Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach and Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer, Al Harris to serve as Chicago’s passing game coordinator on defense and as defensive backs coach. Fans might remember Harris from the moment that cemented his legacy in Green Bay:

January 4, 2004. NFC Wild Card. Seahawks. Packers. Overtime. Seattle wins the coin toss, and Matt Hasselbeck, while electing to receive, says, “We want the ball and we’re gonna score.” Six plays later, Harris jumped a route intended for Alex Bannister, and the Packers were on their way to the divisional round.

Hey, I’m not a Green Bay guy, but it’s still an all-time funny sequence. Anyway, 0-2.

As for the coordinator hires, which were reported during the Chiefs-Bills game just before halftime, Adam Hoge was kind enough to lend his two cents for his CHGO Digest debut:

Let’s start with the good stuff: Hiring an experienced defensive coordinator who also had two stints as an NFL head coach is a really good move for Ben Johnson. Dennis Allen’s scheme will prevent a huge personnel overhaul, while still allowing for necessary tweaks.

And retaining Richard Hightower was smart on a number of levels. His special teams unit has been strong under his watch, but Hightower also knows the entire roster and can bring a ton of perspective on everything — good and bad — that has happened at Halas Hall the last three seasons.

The question mark is obviously Declan Doyle, who is now a 28-year-old first-time offensive coordinator. While he won’t be calling plays, Doyle will have a very large role in developing Caleb Williams. It certainly seems like a leap of faith.

I’m a little concerned that Johnson has never coached with any of his three coordinators, but I’m also not surprised. This was one of the few anticipated downsides of hiring Johnson, and he still did well to bring over Antwaan Randle El from the Lions to be his wide receivers coach and assistant head coach.

Adam Hoge, CHGO Sports

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Trivia!

Yesterday was the 39th anniversary of the Bears’ victory in Super Bowl XX over the Patriots. Chicago scored 11 touchdowns during its three-game postseason run, including three on defense and special teams.

Can you name all the three players responsible for the non-offensive touchdown and how they scored?

Note: William Perry’s touchdown in the Super Bowl does not count.

Reply to this email or tweet me ​@patdnorton​ with your answer!

One lucky person who responds correctly will receive a t-shirt from the ALLCITY store.

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Cubs acquire Pressly

The Cubs made another splash deal with the Houston Astros—their second with the former NL Central rival this offseason—landing closer Ryan Pressly. Pressly, 36, reportedly waived his no-trade clause on Sunday to join Chicago for a chance to return to a closing role.

Due $14 million in 2025, Houston will cover $5.5 million as part of the deal. In exchange, Chicago will send back Class A pitcher Juan Bello. With the Astros, Pressly recorded the final out of the 2022 World Series—a foul-territory pop-out to…recently-acquired Chicago Cub Kyle Tucker.

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Mark Buehrle to receive statue

The White Sox will unveil a statue honoring Mark Buehrle’s legendary Chicago career at Rate Field later this summer. At the SoxFest on Friday, the team announced plans to unveil the statue on Friday, July 11, before the team takes on the Cleveland Guardians.

Additionally, the team has a pretty sweet lineup of giveaways set for that weekend:

• Friday, July 11: 2005 Champs Hawaiian Shirt. (15,000 fans)
• Saturday, July 12: Mark Buehrle miniature replica statue. (15,000 fans)
• Sunday, July 13: Buehrle, Garland, Garcia & Contreras Bobblehead. (10,000 fans)

In 12 seasons with the White Sox, Buehrle won a World Series, threw a no-hitter and a perfect game, was elected to four all-star games, and won three Gold Glove awards. One of Chicago’s most underrated athletes, Buehrle’s No. 56 was retired on the South Side in 2017.

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Hawks trade Taylor Hall

On Friday, the Blackhawks traded forward Taylor Hall to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Chicago’s original third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Chicago had originally sent the pick to Carolina in a previous pick swap.

The Blackhawks facilitated the deal, acting as a third party for Carolina to acquire Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche. Chicago will retain $4.5 million of Rantanen’s deal, which expires this upcoming offseason.

Hall was a late scratch from Friday night’s lineup as the trade reached the goal line. Chicago lost in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3. Interestingly, Seth Jones was also a late scratch on Friday, but the team reported Jones was dealing with an illness. The Blackhawks finished up a four-game homestand (1-1-2) on Sunday night with a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

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