Bears LB coach Richard Smith to miss Seahawks game

Bears linebackers coach Richard Smith is not traveling to Seattle because of health reasons and won't coach Monday night, the Bears said Sunday.

He'll be replaced by assistant linebackers coach Kevin Koch. Koch played quarterback at Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, the College of DuPage and Minnesota State-Moorhead.

The Bears hired Smith as part of coordinator Dennis Allen's staff in January 2025. His son Travis had previously served as the Bears' defensive line coach.

Richard Smith turned 71 last month. He has been an NFL coach for most of his adult life and served as a defensive coordinator for the Dolphins, Falcons and Texans.

The Bears' defense figures to be invigorated by new defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, for whom general manager Ryan Poles traded two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder Thursday. The former Titans star will play Monday night — and match up against the Seahawks' newest trade acquisition, guard Quenton Nelson.