Tag: James Rowe

Report: Bears ask to interview Packers DBs coach Jerry Gray

The Bears have reportedly requested permission to interview Packers DBs coach Jerry Gray for a position on their coaching staff.

The Chicago Bears are reportedly looking to a division rival to fill a vacancy on their defensive staff. According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the Bears have requested permission to interview Green Bay Packers defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Jerry Gray. He also has an interview with the Atlanta Falcons for their defensive coordinator position.

Gray was a star defensive back in the 1980s and has been coaching in the NFL since the 1990s, primarily with defensive backs but also a couple stints as defensive coordinator. He’s coached for a number of teams, including Tennessee, Buffalo, Washington, and Seattle.

More recently, Gray has had a home in the NFC North. From 2014-2019, he was the defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings. He helped develop players such as Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes as they earned multiple Pro Bowl honors. In 2020, he went to the Packers in the same capacity and had success there as well, particularly with Jaire Alexander as he grew into one of the best cornerbacks in the league during his tenure.

Now, the Bears are calling for Gray’s services and while Jones doesn’t list the role, it could be for the vacant defensive backs coach position after James Rowe left for South Florida at the end of the year. Because it would be a lateral move, the Packers can deny the interview request. Gray is allowed to interview for the Falcons defensive coordinator freely.

If Gary doesn’t get the Falcons defensive coordinator job, perhaps he would take an opening with the Bears should the Packers grant permission. Time will tell.

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Bears DBs coach James Rowe is leaving for USF at the end of the season

James Rowe is leaving the Bears at the end of the season for USF, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin.

There is still one week to go in the regular season for the Chicago Bears, but their coaching staff is already undergoing changes. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Bears defensive backs coach James Rowe is leaving the team when the season concludes to become the passing coordinator at the University of South Florida (USF).

After one year as the Indianapolis Colts cornerbacks coach, Rowe followed Matt Eberflus when he became head coach of the Bears last offseason. Prior to his stint in Indianapolis, Rowe’s experience was primarily as a college coach, but he had a stint with the Washington Commanders from 2017-2019 as their assistant defensive backs coach.

In his lone season with the Bears, Rowe was tasked with helping a young secondary develop that included rookies Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker, as well as veterans Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson. Under Rowe’s tutelage, the Bears secondary notched 10 interceptions and saw growth from Gordon and Brisker, while Jackson enjoyed a renaissance season prior to his season-ending injury.

Rowe, an alumni of South Florida, will be a part of new head coach Alex Golesh’s staff.

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Bears DB coach James Rowe praises rookie CB Kyler Gordon’s ball skills

Bears rookie CB Kyler Gordon has impressed this summer, especially when it comes to generating takeaways.

Bears rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon has made a strong impression since he was drafted by Chicago, which has many excited about his potential in this defense.

Gordon has established himself as quite the ballhawk, which has been evident as he’s split time between outside and nickel cornerback this summer.

Defensive backs coach James Rowe praised Gordon’s ball skills, especially when it comes to generating takeaways.

“[Gordon] has a good knack of being around the ball and then has the athletic ability to finish the play,” Rowe said, via ChicagoBears.com. “He has real natural hands, so we’re excited about him going forward in that way.”

Gordon played nickel cornerback during last Thursday’s preseason game against the Seahawks. Gordon was all over the field and showcased his speed and instincts, which included an almost-sack on quarterback Geno Smith.

“One thing that stands out about him is he works hard,” Rowe said of Gordon. “He’s in here at 7 a.m. every morning meeting with coach [David] Overstreet, going over the nickel stuff, and then meets extra time with me going over the corner stuff. He’s putting in the time to be able to do both. I think that’s one key. And then he did it in college. He’s done it before. It’s easier to transfer to the NFL if you’ve done it in college.”

The Bears have played Gordon both outside and in the slot this summer, but it certainly feels like Gordon will start at nickel, which is the most important position in Matt Eberflus’ defense.

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Bears hired James Rowe as DBs coach

The Bears officially hired James Rowe to be their DBs coach.

The Chicago Bears officially hired former Indianapolis Colts cornerbacks coach James Rowe to be their new defensive backs coach.

With new head coach Matt Eberflus taking over, he has brought with him four assistants now with Rowe included. This was to be expected but now it’s official after the team announced it on Friday.

Rowe will be joining a defensive staff that will look very similar to what it did in Indy. Under Eberflus, the Bears will have Alan Williams at defensive coordinator while Dave Borgonzi will be the linebackers coach and David Overstreet II will be the assistant defensive backs coach.

Borgonzi and Overstreet II will hold the same roles as they did with the Colts while Williams gets a promotion from safeties coach to defensive coordinator.

The Colts hired Gus Bradley to be their new defensive coordinator so they will begin filling out his staff sometime during the next week.

 

Bears hire James Rowe as defensive backs coach

Bears HC Matt Eberflus continues to fill out his coaching staff adding James Rowe as defensive backs coach.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus continues to fill out his coaching staff, which included another defensive hire from the Colts.

The Bears hired Colts cornerbacks coach James Rowe as their defensive backs coach, the team announced Friday.

Rowe boasts 14 years of coaching experience at all levels, getting his NFL start with the Washington Football Team as assistant defensive backs coach from 2017-19. Before joining the Colts as their cornerbacks coach in 2021, he was a cornerbacks coach at Appalachian State in 2020.

Rowe is the fourth defensive assistant coach Eberflus has brought over from Indianapolis joining defensive coordinator Alan Williams, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi and assistant defensive backs coach David Overstreet.

Rowe joins a coaching staff that also includes Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator, Alan Williams as defensive coordinator, Andrew Janocko as quarterbacks coach, Tyke Tolbert as wide receivers coach, Dave Borgonzi as linebackers coach and Chris Morgan as offensive line coach.

Here’s a look at the coaching staff Eberflus has assembled so far, which will be updated as hirings are announced:

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Matt Eberflus expected to bring several Colts’ assistants to Bears

Former Colts DC Matt Eberflus is expected to bring several assistants with him to Chicago.

Former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is expected to bring several of his assistants with him as he takes over as the new head coach of the Chicago Bears.

While some aren’t as much of a surprise, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that Eberflus is working on bringing at least four assistant coaches with him to Chicago.

According to Breer, those four names reportedly are safeties coach Alan Williams, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, cornerbacks coach James Rowe and assistant defensive backs coach David Overstreet II.

The Colts have been busy with their own search for Eberflus’ replacement, which has included up to six names as of this writing.

It was expected that Eberflus would bring with him some assistants but it appears the Colts are heading towards a complete overhaul of the defensive coaching staff.

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Matt Eberflus bringing a slew of Colts defensive coaches to Bears

Bears HC Matt Eberflus’ defensive staff is going to feature some familiar faces from the Colts.

The Chicago Bears have found their head coach in Matt Eberflus, and he’s wasted no time assembling his coaching staff. And it’s a staff that’s going to feature some familiar faces for the former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator.

According to SI’s Albert Breer, Eberflus is working on bringing several Colts defensive assistants with him to Chicago. Names like safeties coach Alan Williams, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi and cornerbacks coach James Rowe have previously been mentioned. But Breer also noted that assistant defensive backs coach David Overstreet is also expected to join Eberflus.

Williams is expected to join the Bears as defensive coordinator, as previously reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The Bears announced the hiring of Luke Getsy, who served as the Green Bay Packers passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, as their new offensive coordinator.

Special teams coordinator is worth monitoring following a report that Eberflus was zeroing in on Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia. Now that Josh McDaniels has been hired as Las Vegas’ new head coach, it frees up Bisaccia to go elsewhere. Giants assistant Thomas McGaughey has interviewed for special teams coordinator.

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Bears HC Matt Eberflus bringing two defensive coaches with him from Colts

New Bears HC Matt Eberflus is busy assembling his new coaching staff, which will include a couple of familiar faces from the Colts.

New Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is busy assembling his new coaching staff in Chicago, which will include a couple of familiar faces from the Colts.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Eberflus is bringing cornerbacks coach James Rowe and linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi with him from the Colts. Borgonzi was expected to follow Eberflus, as previously reported, but Rowe is a new addition.

Borgonzi has been instrumental in the success of Colts linebacker Darius Leonard, who has established himself as one of the best linebackers in the NFL. The Bears also happen to have a top linebacker on their roster in Roquan Smith, who would benefit greatly from the influence of both Eberflus and Borgonzi.

Rowe joined the Colts coaching staff last season, but he has extensive coaching experience in the secondary both at the NFL and collegiate level. The assumption is Rowe will serve as a coach in the secondary, where he’ll be tasked with remaking a secondary with some holes. But he’s got some talent to work with in cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson.

Eberflus’ most important hire will be offensive coordinator, given the importance of developing quarterback Justin Fields. Packers quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Luke Getsy has reportedly been offered the Bears’ offensive coordinator position. Chicago has also interviewed Texans quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton.

Eberflus is also zeroing in on Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia to serve as his special teams coordinator.

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Report: Dave Borgonzi, James Rowe ‘on board’ to follow Matt Eberflus

Colts assistant coaches Dave Borgonzi and James Rowe are reportedly ‘on board’ to follow Matt Eberflus to Chicago.

With Indianapolis Colts former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, it is expected that some of his assistants from West 56th Street will follow him to the Windy City.

Though it isn’t official yet, it appears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi and cornerbacks coach James Rowe are “on board” to follow Eberflus to Chicago, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Borgonzi following Eberflus to Chicago is hardly surprising. He’s been with Eberflus both during his time in Indy for four seasons and was with him during their time together in Dallas for three seasons (2011-2013).

Rowe only spent one season with the Colts as their cornerbacks coach but it was clear the impact he had on the room. The breakouts of Rock Ya-Sin and Isaiah Rodgers were huge while Kenny Moore II earned a Pro Bowl nod for the first time in his career.

Another name to keep an eye on in this situation is Colts safeties coach Alan Williams, who has a history of being a defensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings (2012-2013).

Williams is also in the running for the vacated defensive coordinator position with the Colts so he may have a big decision to make.

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7 options for Colts to replace former DC Matt Eberflus

Here are seven options the Colts have to replace DC Matt Eberflus.

The Indianapolis Colts now have to look for a new defensive coordinator as Matt Eberflus has been hired to be the next head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Two offseasons in a row now the Colts have lost a coordinator. First, they lost Nick Sirianni to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. Now, they will watch Eberflus take over the job at Halas Hall.

When Sirianni left, the Colts promoted from within. They opted to go with Marcus Brady, who just completed his first season as the offensive coordinator under Frank Reich.

They will have similar options to work from on the defensive side of the ball. Some have experience as a defensive coordinator in the NFL while others just recently joined the staff.

The Colts will also have their options outside of West 56th Street if they wanted a more experienced defensive coordinator. That would likely mean a shake-up with the entire defensive coaching staff and it isn’t clear if that’s a direction the Colts want to go.

Here is a look at seven options the Colts could replace Eberflus with: