Things started looking promising for the Bears after the Lions loss to a red-hot Washington Commanders team on Saturday. With Detroit’s heart-breaking loss, the NFL coaching carousel can now pick up speed. Both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn will be available for in-person interviews starting Monday, January 20.
Ben Johnson, come on down to Chicago.
It's time.
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 19, 2025
However, the “Ben Johnson Sweepstakes” seems to be gaining momentum, but not in a direction favorable to Chicago. Reports indicate that the Raiders are interviewing Lance Newmark, a former Lions executive and current Commanders assistant GM, for their general manager position. Newmark, who spent 26 seasons in Detroit before joining Washington last year, has a strong relationship with both Johnson and Glenn.
Raiders are interviewing former Lions executive and current Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark today for their general manager job, per sources.
Newmark spent 26 seasons in Detroit before joining Washington last year, and is said to have a strong relationship with both Ben… pic.twitter.com/yfwGg7L9w6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2025
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This development gives Las Vegas an advantage over the Bears and Jaguars in the race for Johnson. According to league sources, this move has been anticipated for the past week. Johnson has expressed a desire for alignment with the front office, and it appears the Raiders are doing everything they can to explore that possibility.
Chicago isn’t slowing down either.
The Bears are moving quickly, with Jay Glazer reporting that they are scheduled to interview Eddie George for their head coaching position on Sunday morning. George, who has been the head coach at Tennessee State for the past four years, was named Coach of the Year in his conference this year and led his team to a co-championship.
It’s not yet confirmed if the interview will be in person, but if it is, the Bears would then fulfill the Rooney Rule requirements. This would allow them to start making offers or officially hire a new head coach. It looks like a busy and potentially eventful week ahead for Chicago.
@I dug Plank: Not sure this reflects that badly on Glenn. It was like he was going into a boxing match with both hands tied behind his back, given the injuries they had on defense. I mean, just losing Hutchinson for the year was enough to derail most teams, yet they had several more key injuries. @Arnie: Unfortunately @TGena just is who he is. I doubt anyone or anything will get him to change. I mean, suppose the Bears win 4 consecutive Super Bowls with Poles and the new coach. TGena will find something to complain about, or just not… Read more »
@Arnie —
As you might argue:, regarding Ryan Poles the Bears have not “decided to retain him” — but merely, have not yet “announced their plans to release him.”
As far as an interesting “something else” tell me about your beliefs that there are strong similarities in the following players:
▪︎ D’Andre Swift and Jahmyr Gibbs
▪︎ Cole Kmet and Sam LaPorta
▪︎ Darnell Wright and Penei Sewell
▪︎ Tyler Scott(?) and Jameson Williams
Or, was that just the acid kicking in, last night?
Arnie,
TGena is Lambert.
Throwing in “the Rooney Rule” is stupid. The Bears fulfilled that from the beginning simply with the size of their candidate pool. The only thing that has held them back are the playoffs – which they aren’t participating in.
@TGena Do you ever get tired of saying the same thing over and over? We all get it, fire everybody all the time because that has such a great track record of making things better for pretty much no team in the league, yet you and a few others just keep pushing for it.
Maybe you could give the “fire Poles” thing a brief pause since the team has decided to retain him? There must be something else you find at least a little interesting to talk about or think about, right? Maybe?