The Chicago Bears are finalizing a deal with Ben Johnson to make him the team’s next head coach, per multiple reports. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, last year’s top pick, now gets the chance to develop with one of the game’s brightest offensive minds.
Johnson, 38, spent the previous three seasons as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, where he left his mark as a quarterback whisperer and creative, unafraid play-caller.
He was a survivor from the previous regime, serving as an offensive quality control and tight ends coach under ex-Lions head coach Matt Patricia for two years. But Johnson and Dan Campbell crossed paths while with the Miami Dolphins, and the Lions head coach kept him on as his passing game coordinator in Year 1.
When Campbell and the Lions relieved Anthony Lynn of his duties midway through that first season here, the head coach called plays and Johnson took a more significant role with the offense.
Since then, it’s been off to the races, with Johnson getting more and more from Jared Goff while the football world cast the Lions quarterback off as dead.
“And so, yeah, there’s a fire there. When that time is, I don’t know when that will be. But there’s a fire there.”Johnson’s deep bag of trick plays and the well-rounded, unafraid offense have made him the hottest of hot commodities on the coaching carousel.
Campbell spoke about the lessons learned from his first season as head coach and having to make that change on the fly. The Lions head coach admitted that he was too focused on roster construction with general manager Brad Holmes as they were trying to prepare for their first draft and foray into free agency.
He made clear that it wouldn’t happen again this time around, whether the Lions make an external or internal hire for their new offensive coordinator.
“I’m not going to allow that to happen,” Campbell said. “I’m going to be involved no matter what because I think that’s best for our offense, but also (Jared) Goff. This thing is set up for Goff to have success with our playmakers, (Amon-Ra) St. Brown, our running backs, the O-line, the whole deal, (Jameson Williams) Jamo.
“I want to keep that in place. I want to keep our terminology in place. I want to make sure that Goff is comfortable because he’s playing at a high level.”
Now, three days removed from the team’s heartbreaking loss to the Commanders, the Lions are in the market for a new offensive coordinator.
There are a handful of internal options to track. With the potential of Johnson bringing an assistant coach with him to Chicago, it’ll be interesting to see how fast the Lions move. Campbell said they won’t rush the move, and that makes sense with Johnson’s departure happening quickly this week.
Names to watch include passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, assistant head coach/running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, offensive line coach Hank Fraley and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.
Fraley virtually interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks for their offensive coordinator position during the bye week. Montgomery has earned praise from Campbell as being head coach-ready. Randle El has been here since Campbell landed in Detroit, too, and he’s also received interest in being an offensive coordinator in the past.
Goff will have a say on the new hire — no surprise there. His involvement and having a heard voice at the table with Johnson as they worked on their offense together were reasons for the resurgence.
“What he says is going to have a — says a lot to me, I should say,” Campbell said of Goff’s opinion on where they go from here.
“Now, is it going to be the ultimate decision? No, it’s not, but what he says is going to mean a lot to me.”
Now, all eyes are on defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as he schedules in-person interviews with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints. Glenn, as a former player and coach, has deep ties to both organizations.
