The Bears on Friday hired Kerry Joseph as their new quarterbacks coach.

Joseph, 50, brings eight years of coaching experience — four in the NFL and four at the collegiate level. He has spent his entire NFL coaching career with the Seahawks, most recently serving as the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2022-23. He previously served as Seattle's offensive assistant/running backs coach (2020) and assistant wide receivers coach (2021).

Alongside Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who joined the club Tuesday after serving as Seattle's offensive coordinator from 2021-23, Joseph helped reshape the career of Seahawks veteran quarterback Geno Smith. In Joseph's first year as assistant quarterbacks coach, Smith became an NFL starting quarterback for the first time since 2014.

Under Joseph's guidance for two seasons, Smith totaled 7,906 passing yards, averaged a 67.3 completion percentage and threw for 50 touchdowns. In 2022, Smith led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8) and ranked fourth in touchdown passes (30), fifth in passer rating (100.9) and eighth in passing yards (4,282).

Joseph's coaching career began at his alma mater, McNeese State, where he served as the co-offensive coordinator from 2016-18. He also coached wide receivers from 2016-17 and quarterbacks in 2018. Before heading to the NFL, Joseph was Southeastern Louisiana State's passing game coordinator/running backs coach in 2019.

The New Iberia, LA, native played nearly 20 years of professional football, spending time in the NFL, CFL, NFL Europe and World League.

Joseph spent the majority of his NFL career with the Seahawks (1998-2001), appearing in 56 games with 14 starts at safety. He totaled 143 tackles, one sack and three interceptions in the NFL.

Following his NFL tenure, Joseph played in Canada for several years, excelling as a quarterback, much like he did in college. After playing for the Ottawa Renegades from 2003-2005, he joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The latter year, Joseph led his team to the Grey Cup and was named CFL's Most Outstanding Player.

As a college quarterback from 1992-95, Joseph led McNeese State to 41 wins and three Southland Conference titles as a starter. As a senior, Joseph won Southland Conference and Louisiana Player of the Year while leading the Cowboys to a 13-1 record. In 2012, he was inducted into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor and is a member of the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame.