There is still one week to go in the regular season for the Chicago Bears, but their coaching staff is already undergoing changes. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Bears defensive backs coach James Rowe is leaving the team when the season concludes to become the passing coordinator at the University of South Florida (USF).
Buy Bears TicketsPer source, Bears DBs coach James Rowe is leaving Chicago after the season to become USF's defensive passing game coordinator on Alex Golesh's new staff. Rowe, a 2009 graduate of South Florida, returns to his alma mater spending the last 2 seasons coaching in the NFL.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) January 2, 2023
After one year as the Indianapolis Colts cornerbacks coach, Rowe followed Matt Eberflus when he became head coach of the Bears last offseason. Prior to his stint in Indianapolis, Rowe’s experience was primarily as a college coach, but he had a stint with the Washington Commanders from 2017-2019 as their assistant defensive backs coach.
In his lone season with the Bears, Rowe was tasked with helping a young secondary develop that included rookies Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker, as well as veterans Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson. Under Rowe’s tutelage, the Bears secondary notched 10 interceptions and saw growth from Gordon and Brisker, while Jackson enjoyed a renaissance season prior to his season-ending injury.
Rowe, an alumni of South Florida, will be a part of new head coach Alex Golesh’s staff.
