Ben Johnson goals to reshape the Chicago Bears, and revitalize Caleb Williams — however his newest transfer has everybody scratching their heads. On Wednesday it was introduced that Johnson was including former Jaguars’ offensive coordinator Press Taylor to his workers, poised to function passing sport coordinator.
The #Bears are hiring former #Jaguars OC Press Taylor as their passing sport coordinator, sources say, a key rent for Ben Johnson and OC Declan Doyle.
Taylor provides expertise and experience in Chicago, plus one other voice for Caleb Williams. pic.twitter.com/ZFx5vhRkbK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2025
It’s not usually an assistant coach hiring warrants main dialogue, however with regards to Taylor this must be analyzed. The youthful brother of Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Press has proven zero of his sibling’s capability to teach within the NFL. Chicago is now his fourth cease within the NFL, together with his resume being plagued by failures alongside the way in which.
Philadelphia Eagles
The best credit score to Taylor’s identify occurred throughout his stint with the Eagles. Starting his profession as an offensive high quality management coach, Taylor made a reputation for himself throughout the Eagles’ Tremendous Bowl win in 2016 when he was credited with devising the “Philly Particular,” the pivotal play of the sport during which quarterback Nick Foles broke out of formation on a trick play and scored a landing.
Promoted to quarterbacks coach of the Eagles in 2018, the whole lot was downhill from there. As quickly as Taylor took over the job Carson Wentz started regressing. In consequence the Eagles went from third within the NFL in scoring offense, to 18th.
The Eagles entrance workplace wished Taylor fired, however was met with unimaginable resistance from Doug Pederson. The coach was so hellbent on protecting Taylor on his workers that he finally acquired fired from his head teaching job for sticking by him. The pair had been fired after the 2020 season, and the Eagles instantly acquired higher with out Taylor being concerned. Jalen Hurts accomplished simply 52 p.c of his passes below Taylor’s steering, however lifted this to a breakout 2nd 12 months with Nick Sirianni’s takeover.
Indianapolis Colts
After being fired by the Eagles, Taylor then joined Frank Reich’s workers on the 2021 Colts. Employed as a “senior offensive assistant,” Taylor didn’t have a substantial amount of enter on the offense with Reich selecting to run the present.
The Colts had been … okay. This was the season the workforce desperately traded for Carson Wentz within the hopes they may recapture his Eagles’ magic, nevertheless it finally didn’t work. Taylor was a part of a workers that noticed the Colts end twenty sixth within the NFL in passing, and tenth in speeding — regardless of having Jonathan Taylor run for 1,811 yards.
Jacksonville Jaguars
In what turned a theme for Press Taylor, his subsequent job got here from a former buddy as soon as extra. Doug Pederson, who sacrificed his job in Philadelphia for him, turned head coach of the Jaguars, and Taylor was employed to his highest-profile job: Offensive coordinator.
Tasked with getting Trevor Lawrence over the hump after the disastrous short-lived City Meyer period, Taylor noticed speedy success with Lawrence lastly getting an opportunity to shine. Sadly this didn’t final. Very similar to his time in Philadelphia, Lawrence started to regress in Taylor’s offense, regardless of the workforce spending extra money in free company so as to add weapons.
Lawrence rapidly noticed his completion proportion, yardage, and touchdowns drop — whereas his interceptions elevated. The Jaguars had been within the Prime 10 in passing in each 2022 and 2023, however this was manufactured success. Jacksonville ran one of the crucial unbalanced offenses within the NFL, passing vastly greater than they ran the ball.
Playcalling was a significant problem by Taylor’s time in Jacksonville. The uneven stability, paired with questionable selections turned Lawrence right into a laughing inventory earlier than he was injured.
Taylor was fired as soon as extra, once more together with Doug Pederson.
Which brings us to Chicago…
Even when Press Taylor is simply being given a job as “passing coordinator,” nonetheless it’s a nasty transfer. At no level in his profession has Taylor confirmed himself to be a midway first rate NFL coach. That is particularly regarding contemplating a part of his job will likely be to help with Caleb Williams’ improvement, and formulating methods to make the passing sport simpler for him.
The difficulty is that at each cease Taylor has made the lifetime of his QBs extratroublesome. The extra accountability he’s been given, the extra he struggles — and that’s a nasty method to begin a brand new Ben Johnson period in Chicago.
What the Bears’ head coach was pondering with this transfer is anybody’s guess.
