When Ben Johnson set out to transform the Chicago Bears into a winning team, he knew the challenge went beyond physical training. Changing the mentality of an organization weighed down by years of losing is no small feat. Teams often fall into a cycle of defeat, and players begin to accept failure as inevitable. Breaking that mindset is one of the toughest tasks for any head coach. Once it takes hold, it’s incredibly hard to reverse. Fortunately, the Bears recognized that their coaching staff would need reinforcements and they acted boldly.
According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the Bears made a groundbreaking addition to their team at Halas Hall: Andy Riise has joined as the new Mental Performance and Leadership Coordinator. Riise’s résumé is as unique as it is impressive. A former U.S. Army field artillery officer, he earned two Bronze Stars for his service in Afghanistan and Iraq and even served in Special Forces. His experience ultimately steered him toward psychology, where he specialized in preventing soldier suicides. This expertise opened doors for him to work at some of the most prestigious companies, honing his skills as a mental performance coach and psychological expert.
With this hire, the Chicago Bears have injected an extraordinary level of gravitas into their organization.
Riise isn’t a football player, but he’s no stranger to pressure. Few understand the psychological toll of high-stakes environments better than he does. Professional athletes constantly live with the pressure of having their careers on the line, knowing that only peak performance and victories secure their futures. Riise has dealt with similar stakes in his 20 years of military service, where life-and-death decisions were a daily reality. His role was to teach others how to navigate those challenges, and now he brings that expertise to the Bears.
For years, the team has been mired in a relentless cycle of heartbreak:
- The NFC Championship loss to Green Bay
- Jay Cutler’s devastating thumb injury
- Aaron Rodgers’ dagger to Randall Cobb
- The Double Doink
- The Hail Mary
One crushing blow after another. It takes an unshakable mental resilience to overcome such setbacks and rise to the top. That’s precisely what the Bears are striving for, and Riise’s guidance could be the key to building that championship mindset. His unique background makes him an invaluable asset in helping the Bears break free from the fog of their past and chart a new course toward greatness.
