Multiple reporters have insisted over recent weeks that if Ben Johnson were to take a head coaching job somewhere, he would seek “alignment.” People may try to translate it, but the simplest way to put it is he’d prefer being paired with a GM he knows and trusts. What obviously isn’t known is who that executive would be if and when he does take such a job. Many have speculated it would be Detroit Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew since the two have worked together since 2021.
However, draft insider Charlie Campbell is hearing a different name. His source indicates the name to watch is Lance Newmark. Currently the assistant GM of the Washington Commanders, he’d spent the previous 26 years in Detroit, including five with Johnson on the coaching staff.
Ben Johnson eyeing Newmark is interesting.
The longtime executive got his start in the 1990s with the Chargers under legendary GM Bobby Beathard. Upon arriving in Detroit, he worked his way up from area scout to national scout by 2005. His influence first really began to surface when he became their director of college scouting in 2008. Around that same time, the Lions finally started hitting on draft picks like Matthew Stafford, Cliff Avril, Ndamukong Suh, Riley Reiff, Ezekiel Ansah, Darius Slay, and Eric Ebron. Eventually, he was promoted to director of player personnel in 2016. Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Jonah Jackson, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, and Sam LaPorta were all brought in with his help.
This doesn’t even include Washington’s outstanding draft with Jayden Daniels, Jer’Zhan Newton, Mike Sainristil, and Brandon Coleman.
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It isn’t hard to see why Ben Johnson wants to reunite with him. Newmark clearly understands how to build the type of roster the young coach wants. He also has an eye for offensive linemen, which is precisely what the Bears need. The question is whether the organization would adhere to Johnson’s demand. It would require firing GM Ryan Poles. There haven’t yet been any strong indications this will happen. However, the possibility remains. If he is fired, this will be the GM name to watch.
Yeah, this Newmark is a grown man. Not some sneaker wearing millennial. I want a guy in penny loafers with 26 years personnel experience with the Detroit Lions. A team that, during his tenure, was utterly dominant the first 2 decades of this century with a 30% winning percentage and a 0 win season!!!…..with Matthew Stafford at QB for 12 of those years. He must be a real team building wizard.
@Tom Waddle Told Ya That is probably the least vulgar, misinformed, and astonishingly stupid post you’ve ever put on here, so I do hear and value your opinion, thank you for sharing it.
I’m still not rooting for the fucking Chargers because I’m not a 24-year-old bartender in Arizona, you fucking cunt.
@Sam Even beyond length of contract, it would seem to me that the biggest thing any coach wants is to work with/for a GM that considers what they are looking for in the roster they have to coach. That’s probably the only “alignment” that matters in reality…at least for most coaching candidates. The coaches who also want to actually be the GM too seem to be a thing of the past. And as for Poles specifically, regardless of what you think about the job he’s done, there’s no denying he has consistently looked to collaborate with everyone from coaches and… Read more »
@citizen34 Well, they can raise somewhere in the vicinity of $1b by selling equity in the franchise to outside investors, which as of last month the McCaskeys and every other owner is permitted to do, without losing operational control.
If ownership isn’t willing to do whatever it takes in order to win, including and especially what I’m proposing, then perhaps the McCaskeys need to get into alignment with every single fan who’s sick and tired of their shit.
Barry, what you fail to understand with our Bears owners is that they have to pay the salary cap like every other NFL owner, but whatever they spend in coaching staff is money out of their pocket. Since they have no other source of income (besides selling the horrible food rights at Soldier Field to the park district), they continue to hire former assistants for coaches and General Managers. The cycle has remained the same for the last 35 years and will not ever change with them as owners. Does anyone actually believe they are going to pay Ben Johnson… Read more »