Ben Johnson has been the hot name for the Chicago Bears head coaching job ever since Matt Eberflus was fired. One could say it was even before that. Rumors have circulated for months that the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator had his eyes on the position since last January. If Eberflus had been fired, Johnson would’ve accepted a chance to interview for it. That didn’t happen. However, the spot is wide open now, and the coordinator is still available. By all accounts, the interest hasn’t ebbed in the slightest.
Buzz only continues to pick up steam with each passing day. This has led to a persistent question. Why is Johnson so interested in the Bears? Sure, two of his mentors, John Shoop and Adam Gase, coached for the team. It’s a large market with plenty of financial opportunities, boasts a talented roster, and an ownership not known for excessive meddling. Still, it also has a long track record of losing. In truth, the pull is deceptively simple. According to Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog, Johnson is eager for a chance to work with Caleb Williams.
It is finding a good quarterback and joining with him at the hip. Despite an atrocious situation around him, Williams has produced one of the better seasons in modern Bears history. He had 3,271 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only five interceptions with two games left. This is despite getting sacked 60 times and watching both his offensive coordinator and head coach get fired. Johnson undoubtedly wonders what such a talented young quarterback could accomplish in his system, which has revived the career of Jared Goff.
Plenty of Bears fans are wondering the same thing. Ben Johnson has a reputation for tailoring his system to his players’ strengths. He’s considered a mad scientist in that regard. Intelligence and aggressiveness are also in ample supply. The only concern is that he hasn’t been a head coach before. Hiring him would be a shot in the dark. Even so, few people are more qualified to oversee the development of Williams. This feels like a situation where the Bears cannot and should not overthink it.
