As fans of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears argue following comments made last week, Lambeau Field icon Al Harris quietly aligned himself with their Wisconsin adversaries.
Harris, a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, was named the new defensive backs coach and defensive pass-game coordinator for the Bears.
He will collaborate with Ben Johnson, who only last week intensified the rivalry between the two nearby cities by stating that he enjoys defeating Matt LaFleur twice annually.
Harris spent seven seasons with the Packers, marking his most successful years in his professional career. During this period, he earned one second-team All-Pro (2007) and participated in two Pro Bowls (2007, 2008).
The 50-year-old coach stepped down in 2013 and grew even more beloved by Green Bay fans after voicing his wish to retire with the team. He had a short stint with the Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams after departing from the Packers in 2010.
“Throughout my career, I had a fantastic time, but most of my best years were in Green Bay, so it mattered a lot to me to retire as a Packer,” he stated in 2013.
“Since I played four games in Miami, was part of the 2011 St. Louis Rams, spent five years in Philadelphia, and one year in Tampa, I believe I’ll always be recognized as a Packer.” “I sense that I am a Packer.”
Al Harris’ path in coaching
Harris boasts a distinguished professional career, having participated in 194 games, with 128 of those as a starter. He recorded 424 tackles, four sacks, 21 interceptions, along with three touchdowns.
He is gradually advancing and building his coaching resume, which began with the Dolphins in 2012 when he worked as a coaching intern under coach Joe Philbin.
Andy Reid, his previous head coach with his second NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles, subsequently brought him on as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. This was his longest period of coaching to date, lasting six years.
It concluded suddenly after he was let go in 2018, but he transitioned to college football as a defensive assistant at Florida Atlantic University.
His final job in the NFL prior to the Bears was with the Dallas Cowboys, where he served as a secondary coach.
