Chicago Bears fans have been waiting for any sign of hope that the Ben Johnson rumors have actual legs. It has been reported for weeks that the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator has interest in the job, but most insiders have been hesitant to go all in on the possibility. They say he will take an interview, but nothing beyond that. Well, that seems to have changed. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network is one of the most well-connected in the industry and has broken Bears news several times in recent years.
That is why his recent update on the Johnson situation was eye-opening, to say the least.
Nothing is ever set in stone this early in the process. The Bears still need to satisfy the Rooney Rule to meet with minority candidates and likely will want to meet with others on their list. However, this is the biggest sign yet that there is mutual interest from both sides. Johnson is intrigued by the Bears job, and Chicago seems fascinated by what he could do for Caleb Williams.
Every once in a while, there is a young, ascending offensive coach who takes the league by storm. Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay both ascended in the mid-2010s. Mike McDaniel followed a few years later, along with Matt Lafleur and Kevin O’Connell. Johnson seems to fall into that same category. He is 39 years old and is the mastermind behind arguably the best offense in the NFL. Detroit is a well-oiled machine, hanging 30-40 points on almost every opponent they come across. The fact he’s been doing it without the benefit of an elite quarterback only enhances his candidacy.
Time will tell how this goes down. It is common knowledge by now that Ben Johnson wants alignment between himself and the front office. Many believe that means he’d prefer to work with his own personnel guy. That has many worried that he might shy away from the job if the Bears insist on keeping GM Ryan Poles. Perhaps they may try to convince the coach that Poles isn’t in any danger of losing his job and can be a great partner for building this organization into a contender. The next few weeks will tell the story.
