A few days ago, it was revealed that Ryan Poles was trying to nudge the Chicago Bears away from committing to a full push for Ben Johnson as the next head coach. It was suggested that much of the issue centered around a fear that the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator would try to drive him out of the GM position so a replacement the coach is familiar with could be brought in. Despite this, reports came out that Johnson will interview with the Bears this week, one of only two he’s accepted.
That makes it clear he is interested in the job. Here is where it gets interesting. According to insider Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado, almost everybody inside Halas Hall wants to get Johnson. He’s highly thought of in the building. Poles isn’t just leading a resistance—he is the resistance. Allbright described him as “skeptical” of Johnson. The belief is that the young coach is seeking somebody willing to give him a considerable say in roster decisions.
Ryan Poles clearly doesn’t want to give up his power.
Not too long ago, there was a theory that this was partly why he chose to hire Matt Eberflus in 2022. Poles didn’t want to deal with somebody who would constantly battle him about roster decisions. Eberflus was desperate for a job since he was facing the prospect of getting fired as Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator. Poles, perhaps subconsciously, sensed the desperation and knew the coach wouldn’t raise too much of a fuss about his personnel moves. It sounds like that would be something Johnson won’t let fly.
As any head coach would, he has specific ideas about the type of team he wants to build. To fulfill that vision, he needs the right players. There is a possibility this could conflict with Ryan Poles’ vision for the team, which is why the GM is skeptical. It is somewhat surprising he holds this stance, considering Andy Reid was given considerable roster sway when he arrived in Kansas City in 2013. Then again, Reid already had an established reputation as a winner. Johnson does not.
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@TGena Your claim was that he should have been the Bears center, so all that means, based on his failure when he was given the starting center job, while being coached by the guy who one ofvthe best Bears centers ever constantly talks about being a great coach, is that it would have been a massive waste of money because Coleman Shelton is a better CENTER. And as a guard, sure, he’d be a better right guard than Nate Davis, though they did both play about the same number of games this past year, but him being a guard wasn’t… Read more »
@Arnie —
Coleman Shelton, 1-year, $3 million (2024, Chicago Bears)
James Daniels,
“$26,500,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including $8,750,000 signing bonus, $8,750,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8,833,333. In 2024, Daniels will earn a base salary of $8,250,000, while carrying a cap hit of $11,166,668 and a dead cap value of $2,916,668.” — Spotrac (1/8/25)
Funny, how money talks!
@Arnie —
Watch some tape.
@TGena Yes, I am saying that Coleman Shelton has been a better center than Daniels, who failed at the position. 8 games. And since, neither Chicago, with Hiestad (who Olin Kruetz has repeatedly described as a great offensive line coach) and Juan Castillo (who built Philly’s offensive lines for years), nor Pittsburgh has ever played him there again. He’s fine as a guard, because, my guess is that it requires less thinking, but if he was capable of being a high end center someone would have moved him there by now. So yes, Coleman Shelton is a better center, being… Read more »
@Arnie @TGena I saw Daniels as less incompetent and just young. He’ll only be 27 when the Steelers release him this off-season. And the Bears replaced him with Nate Davis. O’Connell vs. Campbell. I take that game with a grain of salt. A game that meant something but not “important.” But Campbell’s Mike Tomlin-style persona is great, but not necessary. If you can have a Ray Lewis on-field persona, it actually is better for the head coach to step back and evaluate. Neither Andy Reid, not Nick Saban are the fiery walk-on-glass personalities, but they’re pretty good. I think it… Read more »