New Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower not only has experience being on Chicago's staff but also at beating the Green Bay Packers.
The Bears didn't find the particular team coordinator they were targeting.
Instead, he found a player who has experience beating the Green Bay Packers and made it to the playoffs.
The Bears announced the appointment of Richard Hightower as Special Team Coordinator. Like former Bears special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, Hightower once served as assistant special teams coach for the Bears. He did it for one season in 2016 under Jeff Rodgers.
Hightower was the special team coordinator for the 49ers from 2017 through last season and was in charge when he blocked a punt to score a tying touchdown, then later in overtime during a 13-10 Robbie Gould 45-yard field goal. But won it. NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Hightower's 49ers special teams did not rank higher in the Rick Gosselin special teams rating for 2021, the system used to determine overall special team strength. He was ranked 25th.
Puncher Mitch Wishnowski, under Hightower, was both NFC Special Teams Player of the Month and Player of the Week in 2021. Wishnowski and special team coverage player Trenton Cannon were Pro Bowl alternates. The 49ers finished second in the NFL from 2017-20 in limiting punt returns with a 6.2-yard average.
With Gold as their kicker, Hightower's 2017–20 49ers teams ranked second in the NFL in field goal percentage (88.6%) and scored field goals (124).
Hightower has been coaching in the NFL with Houston since 2006. He also coached in Washington and Cleveland.
The Bears were reportedly interested in Raiders interim coach Rich Biscia as their new special teams coordinator, but he had taken a head coaching job and is now rumored to be a potential new special teams coach for the special teams-challenged Packers. Is.
Bisaccia served on the Dallas staff with new Bears coach Matt Eberfluss.
employees to date
- Head Coach: Matt Eberfluss
- Defensive Coordinator: Alan Williams
- Offensive Coordinator: Luke Getsy
- Special Team Coordinator: Richard Hightower
- Quarterback Coach: Andrew Janoko
- Wide Receiver Coach: Tyke Tolbert
- Offensive Line Coach: Chris Morgan
- Linebackers Coach: Dave Borgonczyk
- Cornerback Coach: James Rowe
- Assistant Defensive Back Coach: David Overstreet II