NEWSLETTER
Speculation that Ben Johnson is interested in the Chicago Bears head coach position continues to grow.
As part of her Week 16 write-up, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin shares this: “Sources confirmed to ESPN that the Lions offensive coordinator is a name the Bears expect to interview for their head-coaching vacancy.” Cronin’s reporting comes one day after NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that Johnson was “intrigued” by what the Bears had to offer and was “willing to listen” to their pitch.
REPORT: Ben Johnson is Intrigued by the Bears Head Coach Opening
At this point, there is no denying that the signaling being done through the media has Ben Johnson as the top candidate for the Chicago Bears coaching gig.
Ben Johnson Bears buzz continues to build
The Ben Johnson conversation surrounding the Bears is beginning to remind me of the discussions we were having about Caleb Williams around this time last year. Williams was the front-runner to go first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fast forward a calendar year and Johnson is projected to be the hottest head-coaching candidate who will be available in this hiring cycle. Time is a human construct that often happens to be nothing more than a flat circle.
There is a lot to like about Ben Johnson as a head coach candidate. The 38-year-old offensive coordinator is orchestrating an offense that ranks first in points and second in total yards. Detroit’s passing offense ranks second in yards and has the third-most passing touchdowns. Not to be ignored in this equation is a rushing attack that checks in with the sixth-most yards, third-most ground scores, and fifth-most rushing attempts. It is truly a balanced attack that is leading the Lions’ offense to greatness.
BEARS HEAD COACH CANDIDATE PROFILES: Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson
Of course, Ben Johnson isn’t the only rumored candidate for the Bears job. In case you missed it, Patrick Flowers rounded up a preliminary ranking of potential applicants based on reporting from league insiders who have been sharing contenders for the gig since Matt Eberflus’ firing after Thanksgiving. Sure, Bill Belichick is already off the board having taken his talents to Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina. But there are still 16 others who could be on Chicago’s radar.
And yet, all roads seem to lead back to Ben Johnson.
Ultimately, I expect the Bears to be in hot pursuit of the Lions offensive coordinator once the team can officially begin making calls and setting up interviews. Chicago’s football team cannot send over a formal interview request until the regular season reaches its conclusion. But based on the reporting that is out there from Bears beat reporters and NFL insiders, it is heavily implied that the two sides will chop it up. Hopefully, the Bears put their best foot forward when that time comes. If they don’t, it could cause them to miss out on the type of dynamic candidate who could lead the franchise out of its current dark place.
