The goalkeeper position at the Chicago Fire has never been an afterthought. Not under the current regime. Gregg Berhalter's gamble last season — promoting Jeff Gal to the backup role without bringing in external depth — worked fine until it didn't. The playoffs exposed that decision brutally.
Now the Fire have addressed it. Josh Cohen, a 33-year-old journeyman with Champions League experience and three Israeli Premier League titles on his résumé, signed through June 2027 with a club option for the following season.
It's not a headline-grabbing move. It might be the most important signing Chicago makes this offseason.
The playoff nightmare
Here's what happened: Chris Brady, the Fire's starting goalkeeper, got injured hours before the decisive Game 2 against Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Gal stepped in. Three goals conceded. Two major errors. Season over.
"The goalkeeper position at the Chicago Fire has been a source of pride and stability for many years," Berhalter said when announcing Cohen's signing. "We are looking forward to welcoming Josh to the goalkeeper union."
Read between the lines. The Fire got burned by a lack of depth, and they're making sure it doesn't happen again. Cohen may not start a single game in 2026. But if Brady goes down in February, March, or — god forbid — the playoffs, Chicago now has someone who's played in front of 40,000 hostile fans in European competition.
Who is Josh Cohen?
Cohen's path to MLS didn't follow a traditional route. Born in Mountain View, California, he went through Brazilian academies — including Grêmio — before returning to the U.S. to play college soccer at UC-San Diego. He bounced around the USL pyramid: Orange County, Phoenix Rising, Sacramento Republic.
It was in Sacramento where Cohen earned recognition. In 2018, he started all 34 games, recorded 12 clean sheets, and was named to the USL All-League Second Team. He was a finalist for USL Goalkeeper of the Year.
Then came Israel. Cohen spent four seasons at Maccabi Haifa, winning three consecutive Israeli Premier League titles (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23) and the 2021-22 Israel Super Cup. He made six appearances in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League — an experience that separates him from most MLS backups.
The 2020-21 season was his best. Cohen earned Maccabi Haifa Footballer of the Year honors after recording 13 clean sheets in 22 league appearances. That wasn't luck. That was performance.
The numbers from Atlanta
Cohen came to MLS with Atlanta United ahead of the 2024 season. The numbers weren't flashy: eight appearances across all competitions over two years. He served as Brad Guzan's backup and rarely got opportunities.
But that's not really the point. Backup goalkeepers aren't judged by playing time. They're judged by readiness — and by what happens when the starter can't go.
Chicago's goalkeeping group now includes Brady (the starter), Cohen (the experienced depth), and Gal (who drops back to third-string, where he was originally signed). The pathway also exists for Fire II's Owen Pratt, who has a homegrown contract kicking in for 2027.
The 2026 season ahead
The Fire open February 21 at Houston Dynamo FC. The MLS schedule runs through November, with a significant interruption for the 2026 World Cup in June and July. Inter Miami CF enters as the defending MLS Cup champions.
Chicago finished strong in 2025 and is expected to contend again. But contention means nothing if you can't handle adversity. The Fire couldn't in the playoffs. Whether Cohen ever plays a meaningful minute remains to be seen. But he's there now. And after what happened against Philadelphia, that matters more than the Fire want to admit.
Depth wins championships. It's not exciting. It's just true.