Ben Johnson is the hottest coaching candidate of the upcoming 2025 cycle. Nobody would dispute it at this point. While plenty of qualified names exist, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator is putting together his third straight season of outstanding work. His team is 12-1, zeroing in on the first seed in the playoffs, and it is primarily because of their prolific offense. Johnson certainly fits the profile in an era where every team hopes to land that next hot young offensive genius. It was somewhat of a surprise that he didn’t get a job somewhere last season.
That might be because he’s been waiting for a specific job to open. Albert Breer of the MMQB revealed that Johnson had hoped for a shot at the Chicago Bears this past off-season. Unfortunately, Matt Eberflus was retained. Rather than go elsewhere, Johnson chose to stay in Detroit. Eberflus is now gone. Sports Illustrated insider Matt Verderame has heard from circles around the NFL that Johnson has only one spot in mind.
Why is Ben Johnson so focused on the Bears?
Well, it’s not entirely certain he is Chicago-or-bust, first of all. Still, they seem like the only team he’s been connected to for weeks. There are a few potential explanations for this. He may desire the opportunity to work with Caleb Williams, one of the most talented quarterbacks to come out of college in years. It isn’t a tough sell. However, it could go deeper than that. Johnson’s first coaching gig came at Boston College in 2009. Remember who happens to be an alum there? Yep, GM Ryan Poles. Maybe it’s possible the two became acquainted during that time.
Lastly, Ben Johnson was nudged into coaching during his final year at North Carolina by his offensive coordinator, John Shoop. Bears fans will remember him as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator of the team from 1999 through 2003. He ran the offense during Chicago’s incredible season in 2001. Maybe Shoop relayed fond memories of his time with the organization, and Johnson always kept that in the back of his mind. Whatever the case, it’s evident the young coach’s interest in the Bears is real.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
@jmscooby — We both know (and said so at the time) that Ryan Poles could have done better at #9 (as well as identified the “haul” Poles could have scored by trading away that overall #1, again). But, QB Caleb Willisms and WR Rome Odunze are the least of Poles’ “problems.” Watch SF’s rookie OL, Dominick Puni, tomorrow — and compare his game with Kiran Amegadjie’s tape versus Dartmouth — because you may not see the “incapacitated” 2024 pick #75 for some time in the NFL. Which of those two linemen would Ryan Poles select today? That’s the problem! ____________… Read more »
TGenda, Brad Holmes went to a team where ownership allowed him to trade their QB1 for Jared Goff, 2 first round picks, and a third round pick.
I’m not a Poles bobo, but I do recognize he came in the door without a full set of draft picks. Apparently, our GM can’t even pick his own HC.
This draft is nowhere the quality of last year’s draft, JMHO. Particularly the OL, when it feels like we just fell into old, bad habits of drafting for absolute need along the OL.
I’ve tried to be objective, but we F’ed up pick #9.
@Arnie. I hear you, but Shelton is also a FA at the end of the year. If we can get him on a decent contract, he would be solid depth piece, but I want a guy that’s going to impose his will on people a little more.
@jmscooby Responding to a couple of different questions you posed or points made… First, I would take Campbell over Ben Johnson because I believe it’s harder to find high end head coaches with the ability to truly establish and maintain a winning culture, and it’s much easier to find solid or better OC’s. Second, as far as fixing the center position, according to PFF, Poles did because our current center, the last I saw was ranked at or near the top 10 in both pass and run blocking. He’s not an all-pro, but he’s neen getting the job done more… Read more »