Tag: Richard Hightower

Bears hire Richard Hightower: 5 things to know about Chicago’s new special teams coordinator

Bears HC Matt Eberflus is filling out his coaching staff, adding Richard Hightower. Get to know Chicago’s new special teams coordinator.

The Chicago Bears new coaching staff is starting to fill out under Matt Eberflus. To fill the special teams coordinator position, Eberflus went with San Francisco 49ers special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.

Hightower has served as special teams coordinator in San Francisco for the last five years under Kyle Shanahan. This is another big hire for Eberflus, who poached a valuable assistant from the 49ers.

With Hightower in place, get to know the Bears’ new special teams coordinator:

Former 49ers special teams coordinator Richard Hightower signs with Bears

The #49ers will be looking for a new special teams coordinator after Richard Hightower took a job with the Bears.

The 49ers will officially be in the market for a new special teams coordinator in the offseason. Richard Hightower who held that position for San Francisco last season is joining the Chicago Bears coaching staff under the same title the team announced Sunday.

Hightower’s exit from the 49ers isn’t a huge surprise considering their struggles on special teams last season. They finished No. 26 in Football Outsiders’ special teams DVOA, and that fits the eye test for that unit. They allowed multiple fake punts to go for first downs or touchdowns, their return game struggled and their kick coverage was lackluster.

This will be Hightower’s second stint with the Bears. He was their assistant special teams coordinator for the 2016 season before joining the 49ers as the special teams coordinator when Kyle Shanahan arrived as head coach in 2017.

Shanahan and Hightower played football together at the University of Texas, and coached together in Houston when Hightower broke into the NFL as an assistant for the Texans in 2006. He also coached with Shanahan in Washington and Cleveland.

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Bears hire Richard Hightower as special teams coordinator

Matt Eberflus made another big hire in Richard Hightower as the Bears’ new special teams coach.

New Bears head coach Matt Eberflus continues to fill out his coaching staff, which includes another big hire.

The Bears have found their new special teams coordinator in Richard Hightower, the team announced Sunday.

Hightower has served as the San Francisco 49ers special teams coordinator since 2017, and he comes to a Chicago unit that ranked among the top 10 in special teams.

Hightower boasts nearly 20 years of coaching experience. He has served as an assistant special teams coach for Washington (2010-11), San Francisco (2015) and Chicago (2016) before being promoted to special teams coordinator with the 49ers in 2017.

Hightower joins Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator and Alan Williams as defensive coordinator.

Here’s a look at how Eberflus’ coaching staff has filled out:

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Four Former Longhorns to Participate in the Super Bowl

With the Super Bowl on Sunday, there are a few former Longhorns participating. One for the KC Chiefs and three for the San Fransico 49ers.

With the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday, there are a few former Longhorns that will be participating in the biggest football game in the world. All but Alex Okafor on the side of the San Fransico, the 49ers will have two coaches and a player who all played on the 40 acres.

Kyle Shanahan is the head coach of San Fransico, while Richard Hightower is a special teams coordinator. Okafor and Marquise Goodwin are players for the Chiefs and 49ers respectively, but will both be injured for Sunday’s game.

Both Shannan and Hightower were receivers for Texas, both playing during the 2001 season. Shannan also played in 2002 and recorded 14 receptions and 127 yards throughout the two seasons.

Goodwin was a more prominent player on the team, playing 2009-2012. Having 120 catches in those four years, he had 1,324 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He was also an effective rusher, averaging 8.8 yards per carry and getting into the end zone three times.

Okafor is the only defensive player, playing on the defensive line. Like Goodwin, he also played for four years, beginning in 2009. He recorded 23 career sacks, with his best season coming his senior year where he recorded 12.5 sacks.

No matter the result of the game, a former Longhorn will be a Super Bowl champion. With the two coaches on the San Fransico side and a player on each team, both the 49ers and Chiefs will have roots from Austin.

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