The Chicago Bears reportedly are hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach.
Bear down: Chicago is finalizing a deal to hire Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as its next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Bears are getting their man. pic.twitter.com/UwlLk3wNJZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2025
Johnson, one of the hottest coaching candidates in this year’s cycle, will be tasked with turning around a Bears team that collapsed in the 2024 regular season after a 4-2 start. Chicago ended up winning just one of its next 11 games (Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers), and it missed the playoffs as a result.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, reacted on Instagram to the news that Chicago was hiring Johnson.
Caleb Williams seems happy about this hire 👀 pic.twitter.com/ozg2KwukJ5
— Chicago Bears Updates (@chbearsupdates) January 20, 2025
During the 2024 season, Johnson had some major praise for Williams and his ability to throw the football.
New #Bears HC Ben Johnson talking about Caleb Williams last month: “There is no question the guy is talented. I remember standing on the sideline last game and you can hear the ball whistle by you. He's got quite a fastball and has some creativity to him.” pic.twitter.com/qxvvUHDj2q https://t.co/e168IOTt3W
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 20, 2025
As a rookie, Williams started all 17 games for the Bears and put up some decent numbers. He completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. However, he also took an NFL-high 68 sacks.
During the 2024 season, the Bears fired their offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, so Williams certainly could benefit from improved playcalling on offense. That’s where Johnson should help Chicago the most – if he continues to call plays as a head coach.
As an offensive coordinator with the Lions in the 2024 season, Johnson led Detroit to the most points in the NFL during the regular season and the second-most total yards. In the 2023 season, he also led an elite offense, as Detroit finished third in total yardage on offense and fifth in total points.
To compare, the Bears finished the 2024 regular season with the fifth-fewest points in the NFL and the least amount of yards. Chicago averaged just 4.5 yards per play, which was also the worst mark in the NFL.
Williams had previously weighed in on what he wanted in his next head coach, stating that he would like an offensive-minded leader.
“Selfishly, I want an offensive-minded guy so I can build with him and be with that coach for the next 19, 17, 15 years, so I can also learn and grow and things like that from him and what he’s seen and what he’s gone through with other QBs or been around,” Williams said on the St. Brown Podcast. “… But if we get an overall, like, grand scheme coach, and is good with time management, good with the clock, good with helping control the game. It’s a big factor, obviously. In our game when we played the first time in your place, big factor was being able to help control the clock.”
Johnson certainly fits the mold of an offensive-minded coach, and hopefully he’ll be able to lead Williams and the Bears to a more successful season in the 2025 campaign and beyond.
