Chicago’s new Director of Football and Head Coach has fostered a welcoming atmosphere noticed by newcomers like defender Jack Elliott
From the moment Gregg Berhalter was announced as Chicago Fire FC’s new Director of Football and Head Coach in October 2024, expectations about the 2025 regular season began to grow. Fans and pundits around the league were immediately anxious to hear some names he would bring to Chicago to wake the “sleeping giant” that would return to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Less than a week after Major League Soccer’s free agency period started on Dec. 12, 2024, Berhalter and the Sporting Leadership team got to work, signing veteran center back Jack Elliott to anchor the back line. The signing would signal a flurry of additions for the team that has continued through a busy preseason in Florida, where the head coach talked to media members about the new faces.
“We like technical players, first and foremost,” said Berhalter. “We like guys that are resilient, that like to put in a good physical effort. They need to pass the character test, that's for sure. And we need to see how they fit into the group and how they fit into our game model.”
Elliott fit the description. After spending eight seasons with the Philadelphia Union, leading them to the 2022 MLS Cup Final and the 2020 Supporters’ Shield, the defender signed a contract with the Fire hoping to apply some of the lessons that made him one of the league’s best defenders and a valued teammate.
“I think change can bring out the best in people sometimes, and change is always good to see yourself and give yourself a new challenge of being outside of a comfort zone,” said Elliott. “Gregg obviously has a clear plan of how he wants to play and sold me on that. And it's something that I think I can master and do well at.”
The defender bought in immediately, taking a leadership role within the squad and wearing the captain’s armband in the team’s first preseason match against Brazilian side Fortaleza EC. Beside marshaling the team on the field, he sees a responsibility to help newcomers to the club adapt to a new home – especially as a newcomer himself.
“I think moving to a new place is hard for anyone,” Elliott said. “I have the benefit of already being in the USA and being in MLS for so long, but also the experience of moving halfway across the world to start a new life. So, I think I've got some experience to help the guys coming from Europe or anyone coming from another team, you know, as it is difficult to move from a home or a place you've been for a while before that.”
His example has set the tone for the rest of the squad, said Berhalter, who highlighted how recent additions like fellow center back Sam Rogers have quickly integrated themselves to the side. His search for players who “pass the character test” has resulted in a welcoming environment for all the new faces to come.
"They're all acclimating at different times, but we'll do a good job of onboarding them,” said Berhalter. “And I think most importantly, it's how the group accepts them and interacts with them, and that's been great so far. The group has been working extremely hard, really focused in training and really welcoming to new players coming into the team.”
The culture in the locker room has helped the side adapt quickly to new teammates, which in turn has helped the play on the field.
“I think there's been a lot of good things happening and a lot more connections being made with each other,” said Elliott, adding that it helps “understanding how everyone plays, understanding the system definitely more, getting sharper with every day, and getting the technical parts of the game a bit more tightened up.”
“It's definitely been great for me, and the people have been amazing so far. It's been an easy transition.”
