Bears defensive back just made two assistant coaches smile without even doing anything on the field and it came at the most fitting time
Al Harris and Antwaan Randle El will be smiling watching the broadcast back after Week 17.
Going into the “Sunday Night Football” game between the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers, Bears assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El asked for a big favor from his players that had nothing to do with what happened on the field.
Randle El, the former Super Bowl champ and NFL wide receiver, has played in big games before and the trademark of a primetime game is the player introductions, when the starters state their name and the college / high school they attended before the NFL.
Some players add some flair or humorous comments to their introduction, something Randle El did often throughout his 9-year playing career and he wanted to see his players add something extra in Week 17.
“You guys gotta have some flavor,” Randle El said via a funny post by the social team earlier in the week. “I have flavor. This was 20 years ago, and it still got flavor. Put some flavor on it, fellas.”
C.J. Gardner-Johnson gives a shout out to Al Harris during his player introduction
Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson answered the bell for his assistant head coach. Gardner-Johnson was the eighth starter announced for the Bears defense and said: “Ceedy Duce, Al Harris University.”
Now that’s some flavor. And no, Al Harris University is not a real place Gardner-Johnson attended. Instead, it’s a nice and subtle shout out to Bears defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator Al Harris.
Harris joined the Bears staff this year in the first season under head coach Ben Johnson and continues to make a strong name for himself in the coaching ranks after a successful career in the league as a player. Under Harris, the Bears lead the NFL in takeaways and interceptions and it’s not a fluke either.
“He’s done a phenomenal job,” Johnson said of Harris during his sit down interview with Tony Dungy ahead of SNF. “He’s made a huge impact on our players, he’s made a huge impact on our defense, and our team. Everywhere he’s been, his DBs have been ballhawks.”
Harris is well on his way toward a potential defensive coordinator role of his own sooner than later but he’s brought a big emphasis in his one year in Chicago that goes beyond the defensive back room.
Takeaways are already playing a big role early against the 49ers
On the opening drive of the game against the 49ers, before the broadcast even had a chance to show the player introductions for the defense, Chicago made an impact play.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards intercepted 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy on the first play of the game and returned it 34-yards for a touchdown after a tip by star cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
It’s a great start for the defense and a testament to the great coaching by Harris and the rest of the staff that’s well respected by the players.
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