{"id":22438,"date":"2025-01-28T05:32:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T05:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=22438"},"modified":"2025-01-28T05:32:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T05:32:15","slug":"cowboys-lose-key-defensive-coach-al-harris-to-bears-in-surprise-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=22438","title":{"rendered":"Cowboys Lose Key Defensive Coach Al Harris to Bears in Surprise Move"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bvmsports.com\/nfl\/dallas-cowboys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a>\u00a0defensive backs coach Al Harris is leaving for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bvmsports.com\/nfl\/chicago-bears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chicago Bears<\/a>, where he will take on the role of passing game coordinator under new head coach Ben Johnson. Harris\u2019 departure adds to the Cowboys\u2019 coaching staff challenges, particularly following head coach Mike McCarthy&#8217;s exit after five seasons. Harris was instrumental in developing stars like Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland during his tenure. This move marks a significant change for the Cowboys as they navigate a coaching shakeup amid the loss of multiple staff members.<\/p>\n<p><strong>By the Numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Harris coached with the Cowboys for three seasons, joining in 2020.<\/li>\n<li>He had a 14-year playing career, including two Pro Bowl selections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>State of Play<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cowboys are dealing with substantial turnover in their coaching staff.<\/li>\n<li>Special teams coordinator John Fassel has also left for the Tennessee Titans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s Next<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"qcmgidgb\">\n<div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1677046\" data-uid=\"04edc\">\n<div id=\"mgw1677046_04edc\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox card-media\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\">\n<div class=\"container-flu details\">\n<article class=\"content\">Harris is expected to elevate the Bears\u2019 passing game as they seek to strengthen their roster in the competitive NFC North. The Cowboys will face Harris and the Bears during the 2025 regular season, which could add an interesting narrative to future matchups.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bottom Line<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Cowboys\u2019 coaching staff overhaul poses challenges, but it also opens the door for new opportunities. Harris&#8217; exit signifies a pivotal moment for Dallas as they realign their strategies, focusing on rebuilding and future successes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"qcmgidgb2\"><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed\"><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1677045\" data-uid=\"005cb\">\n<div id=\"mgw1677045_005cb\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"row1\">\n<div id=\"25788a4b-dd39-11ef-b558-e43d1a2a04aa\" class=\"mgline teaser-4147868 type-w\" data-i=\"RLoqV839BOL0O_lj0Sv5Chioc_kHfUoY4eNYGe7gT4zkGaXZ-gwGnoL2kQKwqL3PFyGfzWBmLxo8ER6AJAXcgEDrGX9gakE7RkcmYdd49Mc*\" data-cat=\"IAB1-6\" data-observing-start=\"1738042311538\" data-observing-time=\"1004\" data-showed=\"1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"2576362b-dd39-11ef-aa50-e43d1a2a96ea\" class=\"mgline teaser-10881013 type-w\" data-i=\"RLoqV839BOL0O_lj0Sv5CryE2JVeK4hIGtjeaPE_fHpofqpExbiDObnecPU6iHbMFyGfzWBmLxo8ER6AJAXcgD59bzkAK4JRa8oQ9Uw_2Eo*\" data-cat=\"IAB1-2\" data-observing-start=\"1738042302245\" data-observing-time=\"1464\" data-showed=\"1\">\n<div class=\"mgline-inner\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dallas Cowboys\u00a0defensive backs coach Al Harris is leaving for the\u00a0Chicago Bears, where he will take on the role of passing game coordinator under new head coach Ben&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - 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