Chicago Bears hiring former Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris

Ben Johnson continues to assemble his coaching staff in Chicago. And on Friday evening, he landed a former Packers standout corner to coach the group. The Bears are hiring Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach Al Harris. With Chicago, he’ll be their defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach, according to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Harris, 49, has been on the Cowboys’ coaching staff since 2020 when Mike McCarthy was named the team’s head coach. McCarthy spent four seasons as Harris’ head coach when the former NFL cornerback played for the Green Bay Packers (2006-09).

Under Harris’ tutelage, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland have become All-Pro cornerbacks. Bland led the NFL with nine interceptions in the 2023-2024 season, while Diggs paced the league with 11 in 2021.

“Definitely, Al’s an incredible coach. And I think anytime you have a chance to be in a room not only with someone that’s an expert of how to do it, but he’s also done it, that carries a lot of weight in this game without a doubt,” McCarthy said in November of 2023. “… I’m just so happy for him to see him get some recognition for the type of job that he’s done.” 

Given Harris’ career, in which he played 14 seasons, earning two Pro Bowl appearances, it’s hardly surprising to see his success as a coach.

“If you knew Al as a player, I mean he was, I mean he was a bulldog,” McCarthy said. “I mean he was just all football. But yeah, I mean, you know, I’m not surprised by it because of the way he played because it’s the way he coaches, you know, and what he believes in. I mean, Al was such a strong technician when he played. We lined up, we played bump-and-run pretty much every snap. So, he really always challenged, was a challenge for the receivers that we were preparing for week in and week out. And he coaches the same way.”

On3’s Nick Geddes also contributed to this article.