The Chicago Bears didn’t wait long before addressing an offensive coaching vacancy. Following the firing of four coaches, including offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, on Tuesday, Matt Nagy has already made a new addition to his coaching staff.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Juan Castillo will be joining the Bears as their new offensive line coach.
Veteran assistant Juan Castillo will be joining the #Bears as their offensive line coach, source said. A big move for Matt Nagy’s staff.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 1, 2020
Castillo will be replacing Harry Hiestand, who served as Chicago’s offensive line coach from 2018-19 and also previously from 2005-09. Castillo is a veteran NFL assistant who also has experience as a running game coordinator, something that Nagy clearly valued as that’s a key area where the Bears need to get better on offense.
Castillo most recently served two years as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, where he was let go following a disappointing season from his offensive line. But some insisted it was more about the personnel than the coach.
Before his time in Buffalo, Castillo spent four years as an assistant to John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent one season as run game coordinator before changing over to offensive line coach.
Castillo does have some ties to Matt Nagy, as he worked with Nagy under Andy Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles. In fact, Castillo was with the Eagles from 1995 to 2012, where he served different roles. He worked as an offensive assistant, tight ends coach, offensive line coach and defensive coordinator.
It’s clear that this hiring is reliant on Castillo’s reputation as a running game coordinator, which remains one of the Bears’ biggest offensive concerns.
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