The Chicago Bears hired Richard Hightower as special teams coordinator under new coach Matt Eberflus on Sunday.
Hightower spent the past five seasons as San Francisco’s special teams coordinator and has 15 years of NFL coaching experience. He replaces Chris Tabor in Chicago, where Hightower was assistant special teams coach on John Fox’s staff in 2016.
Special teams played a big role in San Francisco’s NFC championship game run this season. The 49ers blocked a punt and returned it for a tying touchdown in the fourth quarter of their divisional-round game at Green Bay, and former Bear Robbie Gould kicked the winning field goal. San Francisco also blocked a field goal by Green Bay at the end of the first half.
The 49ers then lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game.
From 2017-2020, the 49ers tied for second in the NFL in made field goals (124) and fifth in field goal percentage (88.6). San Francisco’s punt coverage ranked second in that span, holding opponents to 6.2 yards per return.
The Bears now have all three coordinators in place, with Hightower joining offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and defensive coordinator Alan Williams.
The Chicago Bears hired James Rowe as defensive backs coach on Friday.
Rowe is the latest assistant to follow new coach Matt Eberflus from Indianapolis to Chicago after coaching the Colts’ cornerbacks this past season. The list includes defensive coordinator Alan Williams, linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi and assistant defensive backs coach David Overstreet II.
Rowe has coached for 15 years — four in the NFL. The Colts ranked second in the league with 33 takeaways and tied for third in interceptions with 19 in his lone season with them. Cornerback Kenny Moore II made his first Pro Bowl after finishing with four interceptions and a team-high 13 passes defensed.
Rowe was also an assistant with the Washington Commanders from 2017 to 2019.
Eberflus was hired last week for his first NFL head coaching job, replacing the fired Matt Nagy, after he spent the past four years as Indianapolis’ defensive coordinator. The Bears also have a new general manager, with Ryan Poles taking over for Ryan Pace.
