Le Journal

In an NFL offseason defined by turnover, the Chicago Bears appear poised to retain one of their most important culture-setting assistants. Bears assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El recently posted a message on Instagram that strongly suggests he is staying in Chicago, despite the league-wide trend of staff poaching following successful seasons. Bears Assistant HC and WR coach Antwaan Randle El's latest Instagram post.I don't think he's going anywhere. pic.twitter.com/9CCxGmwPTG— Dave (@davebfr) January 21, 2026 Randle El shared a photo with wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus accompanied by the caption, “Year one in my city. Setting the standard.” The message carried weight, particularly given Randle El’s deep personal ties to the area. Born in Riverdale, Illinois, Chicago is his hometown, and the wording reflected both pride and commitment. Around the league, such posts are often subtle indicators of intent, and this one reads clearly: Randle El plans to continue what he helped build in 2025. The timing is notable. Early in the 2026 offseason, the Bears lost running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who departed to rejoin the Kansas City Chiefs as offensive coordinator. Bieniemy played a key role in Chicago’s playoff run and his exit was expected to be the first of several changes. With speculation surrounding other assistants, retaining Randle El becomes even more significant. His impact and energy in year one was evident despite the drop issues from Bears pass cathcers. Continuity at the position is especially important as head coach Ben Johnson continues to refine his offensive system and support Caleb Williams development. The Bears are also expected to keep defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, further signaling a desire for stability and unfinished business. In a league driven by constant change, Randle El choosing to stay represents something rare: homegrown continuity, cultural alignment, and belief in what’s being built. As Chicago looks toward 2026, that foundation matters.

The Chicago Bears now face their most important offseason in recent memory. They won the division this year, made the playoffs, and were 15 yards away from likely going to the NFC championship. It is clear this team is good enough to challenge for a Super Bowl. All they need is one more push. That responsibility falls to GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson over the next few months. It starts with figuring out who they want to keep among several in-house free agents. Near the top of that list is Jaquan Brisker. After missing most of last season with a concussion, the safety played every game in 2025. He finished with 93 tackles, a sack, an interception, and eight passes defended. His performance in the playoff loss to Los Angeles was excellent, reminding everybody of what his versatility brings. The problem is whether it was enough to convince the team to hand him a second contract. According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, that seems unlikely, not because of the injury concerns, but the growing market awaiting him in March. The 2022 second-round pick still doesn’t have an extension, which isn’t the best sign in terms of his future with a team that has a ton of offseason decisions to make. It sounds to me as if Brisker will have an outside market that prices him out of Chicago. Another Bears dilemma complicates the decision on Jaquan Brisker. Keep in mind, they’ve already handed lucrative contracts to both Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. They can’t afford to pay everybody. Some money must be saved for elsewhere. Such is the nature of the salary cap era. Sooner or later, a sacrifice must be made. Do the Bears think they can survive without Jaquan Brisker? The short answer is yes. His production is not irreplaceable. Finding good safeties in the draft is easier than finding them at premium positions like cornerback and pass rusher. Right now, Jaquan Brisker is projected to command at least $10 million per year. If the market is as strong as ESPN says, it’ll probably end up being more. Even with some cap restructuring, that seems like too much for the Bears to commit to a guy who wasn’t even the best player at his position on the team. Kevin Byard should probably get priority treatment despite being in his 30s. Who knows. Maybe Brisker and the front office find a way to make it work. Based on where things are trending, though, his future lies elsewhere.