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  "path": "/bears/2026/02/04/bears-to-hire-longtime-nfl-assistant-eric-studesville-as-running-backs-coach",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-05T02:57:18.207Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"_blank\" >Bears</a> are bringing back a familiar face in more ways than one. They agreed to hire veteran NFL assistant Eric Studesville as running backs coach, a source said.</p><p>Studesville, 58, coached running backs and held other titles with the Dolphins the last nine seasons, spanning three head coaches. He worked alongside Bears coach <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/01/21/blending-from-variety-of-influences-new-bears-coach-ben-johnson-looks-to-make-them-smarter-quicker-bolder\" >Ben Johnson</a> as Dolphins assistants in 2017 and ’18.</p><p>His first stint as a Bears assistant was from 1997 through 2000 under Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron. The last two seasons with the Bears, he was their wide receivers coach and assistant special teams coach.</p><p>Studesville also has coached running backs for the Giants, Bills and Broncos.</p><p>The job was open because Eric Bieniemy left after one season to return to the Chiefs as offensive coordinator, replacing former Bears coach Matt Nagy.</p><p>The Bears also need to find an offensive coordinator after Declan Doyle went to the Ravens after one season in the job for the chance to be a play-caller, but hiring out of order isn’t an issue given that Johnson runs the offense and calls plays.</p><p></p><bsp-list-loadmore class=\"PageListH\" data-module data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-bc0001\" name=\"list-bc0001\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, items=[{type=Image, anchorId=promo-850000, publishDate=February 04, 2026 08:41 PM, _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, title=Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier of 1985 Bears looks for another ring in 40th anniversary of championship, isFeatured=false, wordCount=397, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/seahawks-assistant-leslie-frazier-of-1985-bears-looks-for-another-ring-in-40th-anniversary-of-championship, ampLink=null, timestamp=1770259319000, description=[{items=[Frazier was rooting for his old team to advance in the playoffs and face the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.]}], audio=[], media=[{alt=Seahawks Rookie Camp Football, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/ed/6b/23829947404993ae48e81e714ded/ap24142079162763.jpg, width=2989, height=1993}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/ed/6b/23829947404993ae48e81e714ded/ap24142079162763.jpg, width=2989, height=1993}}], audioDuration=null, authors=[{bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Headshot of Chicago Bears reporter Jason Lieser}]}], _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, category=[{items=[Bears]}]}, {type=Image, _styledTemplate=null, anchorId=promo-850001, imageAlignment=null, media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Patriots Bengals Football, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/24/13/d04a015b4938b9044604869deed2/ap25329812289964.jpg, width=2761, height=1841}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/24/13/d04a015b4938b9044604869deed2/ap25329812289964.jpg, width=2761, height=1841}}], isFeatured=false, wordCount=622, category=[{items=[Bears]}], publishDate=February 04, 2026 07:43 PM, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, authors=[{name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Headshot of Chicago Bears reporter Jason Lieser}], _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}]}], categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, title=Patriots coach Mike Vrabel bypassed Robert Spillane — twice. Now he's go-to guy on Super Bowl team, ampLink=null, audio=[], timestamp=1770255812000, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/patriots-coach-mike-vrabel-bypassed-robert-spillane-twice-now-hes-the-go-to-guy-on-his-super-bowl-team, description=[{items=[Spillane, who played at Fenwick, couldn’t get a sniff when Vrabel was linebackers coach at Ohio State, and Vrabel cut him from the Titans in 2018. Years later, they’re a perfect match.]}]}, {type=Image, publishDate=February 04, 2026 07:06 PM, _styledTemplate=null, media=[{alt=Super Bowl Football, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/13/6c/6e44b67b460180e8a32cf1eeadfc/ap26034102534708.jpg, width=6030, height=4020}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/13/6c/6e44b67b460180e8a32cf1eeadfc/ap26034102534708.jpg, width=6030, height=4020}}], imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, timestamp=1770253583000, category=[{items=[Bears]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/from-vastly-different-backgrounds-super-bowl-coaches-mike-vrabel-mike-macdonald-strike-perfect-tone, description=[{items=[Bears coach is up against those two for NFL Coach of the Year, which will be announced Thursday. Vrabel is the favorite, but the good news for the Bears is they’re no longer pining for that type of leader. They have one.]}], categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, authors=[{media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Headshot of Chicago Bears reporter Jason Lieser}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}]}], ampLink=null, anchorId=promo-860000, audio=[], title=From vastly different backgrounds, Super Bowl coaches Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald strike perfect tone, wordCount=927, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}], 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hideImage=false, suppressPagination=true, footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], showSecondItemMedia=false, listColumns234=null, footerTextColor=#ffffff, title=Latest on the Bears, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, hideDescriptions=false, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, anchorId=list-bc0001, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, count=20438, pageCount=6813, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Bears</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items\" data-with-borders data-list-loadmore-items> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier of 1985 Bears looks for another ring in 40th anniversary of championship\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/seahawks-assistant-leslie-frazier-of-1985-bears-looks-for-another-ring-in-40th-anniversary-of-championship\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" 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class=\"Image\" alt=\"Seahawks Rookie Camp Football\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/715d5ed/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2977x1993+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fed%2F6b%2F23829947404993ae48e81e714ded%2Fap24142079162763.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/seahawks-assistant-leslie-frazier-of-1985-bears-looks-for-another-ring-in-40th-anniversary-of-championship\" >Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier of 1985 Bears looks for another ring in 40th anniversary of championship</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Frazier was rooting for his old team to advance in the playoffs and face the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770259319000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"397\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Patriots coach Mike Vrabel bypassed Robert Spillane — twice. Now he's go-to guy on Super Bowl team\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/patriots-coach-mike-vrabel-bypassed-robert-spillane-twice-now-hes-the-go-to-guy-on-his-super-bowl-team\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ffbd418/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2750x1841+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F13%2Fd04a015b4938b9044604869deed2%2Fap25329812289964.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c19c69c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2750x1841+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F13%2Fd04a015b4938b9044604869deed2%2Fap25329812289964.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Patriots Bengals Football\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c19c69c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2750x1841+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F13%2Fd04a015b4938b9044604869deed2%2Fap25329812289964.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/patriots-coach-mike-vrabel-bypassed-robert-spillane-twice-now-hes-the-go-to-guy-on-his-super-bowl-team\" >Patriots coach Mike Vrabel bypassed Robert Spillane — twice. Now he's go-to guy on Super Bowl team</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Spillane, who played at Fenwick, couldn’t get a sniff when Vrabel was linebackers coach at Ohio State, and Vrabel cut him from the Titans in 2018. Years later, they’re a perfect match.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770255812000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"622\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"From vastly different backgrounds, Super Bowl coaches Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald strike perfect tone\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/from-vastly-different-backgrounds-super-bowl-coaches-mike-vrabel-mike-macdonald-strike-perfect-tone\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2b04de9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6005x4020+25+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2F6c%2F6e44b67b460180e8a32cf1eeadfc%2Fap26034102534708.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8fa64bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6005x4020+25+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2F6c%2F6e44b67b460180e8a32cf1eeadfc%2Fap26034102534708.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Super Bowl Football\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8fa64bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6005x4020+25+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2F6c%2F6e44b67b460180e8a32cf1eeadfc%2Fap26034102534708.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/04/from-vastly-different-backgrounds-super-bowl-coaches-mike-vrabel-mike-macdonald-strike-perfect-tone\" >From vastly different backgrounds, Super Bowl coaches Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald strike perfect tone</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Bears coach is up against those two for NFL Coach of the Year, which will be announced Thursday. Vrabel is the favorite, but the good news for the Bears is they’re no longer pining for that type of leader. They have one.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770253583000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"927\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageList-footer\"> </div> </bsp-list-loadmore><p></p>",
  "title": "Bears to hire longtime NFL assistant Eric Studesville as running backs coach: source",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-05T03:18:05.106Z"
}