Things move fast in the NFL. Unfortunately, that is almost never the case for the Chicago Bears. They’ve often had a reputation for being glacial in their operations. That wasn’t going to happen this time. It became clear after the regular season ended that Ben Johnson was their preferred candidate for head coach. The problem is the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator was in high demand. Many wondered if the Las Vegas Raiders, led by new part-owner Tom Brady, might steal him away. In the end, GM Ryan Poles and team president Kevin Warren got it done. Johnson is set to become the Bears’ 19
This move feels like something that has never happened with the Bears before. It never felt like they landed the most coveted candidate during any previous coaching cycle going back decades. Johnson was a premium target last year before returning to Detroit. This year was no different. Many teams wanted him. In the end, the Bears had the right pitch and the right bait. Just 48 hours after the Lions’ season ended, the franchise has their new head coach.
The Chicago Bears’ mission was crystal clear.
It was doing everything in its power to maximize Williams. He has the capability to become a star. For that to happen, he needs the right coach to bring it out of him. Johnson was masterful for three years in Detroit, reviving Jared Goff’s career after many wrote him off as a lost cause in L.A. He’s also a big proponent of a strong ground attack, which fits Chicago perfectly. The path ahead is clear. Poles must utilize every resource available to overhaul the Bears’ struggling offensive line. If he can get that squared away, the offense on the horizon could be one the best this organization has seen in many years.
Another of Erik Lambert’s ardent readers has self-identified as being so delusional that he can hear and recall past conversations between Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson.
I guess you “can make this stuff up.”
Any thoughts on the whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa?
I was just thinking, I don’t think I ever remember Flus losing his temper. This game is a game of emotions, Momentum shift from one set of plays to the next. I like an emotional coach. The Bobby Knight kind who demands perfection and devotion.
Hey TGina, stop bellyaching, change your tampon, and get over it! R Poles had this in the bag all along. This deal was done the curtain starting in 23 and by the time Draft 24 rolled around R Poles put the finishing nail in the coffin by trading Fields and drafting C Williams thereby securing B Johnson as HC in 25. B J got one more shot to claim that SB dream, the Bears got their QB right and in 25 they got the best HC candidate since S McVay went to LA.
Poles wanted B Johnson in 23, but was most likely ordered to stay the course with ME for the 23-24 season. I wonder if B Johnson and R Poles talked about the Bears drafting C Williams during that offseason. The Plan, BJ returns to D to seek a SB win, RP drafts C Williams, 2025 RP hires BJ as HC…..amd maybe somewhere along the way they convinced G McCaskey to agree to the LTP! Today=success of the Plan and everyone wins!
Johnson never made it to Halas Hall for 2nd interview. That’s how bad they wanted him. This doesn’t happen unless Poles did some work behind te scenes with Ben’s people.