The Chicago Bears have hired Ben Johnson, the former offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, as their new head coach. The Bears hope Johnson can reinvigorate their offense and help develop their talented young quarterback, Caleb Williams.
Johnson, one of the most sought-after candidates in this year’s coaching cycle, was also pursued by the Las Vegas Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ultimately, he chose Chicago over the competition.
According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, former NFL quarterback and current minority owner of the Raiders, Tom Brady, made a compelling pitch to Johnson in an effort to bring him to Las Vegas.
“Tom Brady and Ben Johnson spent hours on a Zoom call last weekend,” Russini shared on X. “Brady made a strong case, and Johnson gave serious consideration to joining the Raiders. Chicago, however, won the Johnson sweepstakes.”
Why Ben Johnson Chose the Bears Over Tom Brady’s Raiders
Despite Brady’s efforts, Johnson’s decision ultimately came down to his interest in coaching Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
“While it makes sense Ben Johnson took the Chicago job, people around the league are pretty surprised right now,” Russini wrote. She later explained the primary reason for his choice:
“Ben Johnson picked the Bears because of the quarterback. It’s that simple,” she added in another post.
Johnson, 38, began his NFL coaching journey in 2012 with the Miami Dolphins, holding various positions, including assistant quarterbacks coach, tight ends coach, and wide receivers coach. He joined the Lions in 2019 as an offensive quality control coach before being promoted to tight ends coach in 2020. By 2022, he was the team’s offensive coordinator, leading one of the league’s most explosive offenses.
Under Johnson’s guidance, the Lions’ offense underwent a dramatic transformation. In the 2024 season, Detroit had the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 33.2 points per game. The team set a franchise record with 564 points, achieved 15 regular-season wins, and turned QB Jared Goff into an MVP candidate. Johnson’s creativity and ability to optimize his players’ strengths were critical to the Lions’ success.
Now, he’ll take on his first head coaching role with a historic franchise eager for a resurgence.
Caleb Williams Poised for Growth Under Ben Johnson
The Bears’ decision to hire Johnson comes after a disappointing 5-12 season that led to the dismissal of head coach Matt Eberflus. The organization is optimistic that Johnson’s offensive acumen will be key to unlocking the potential of Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams’ rookie season showed promise, and the Bears are counting on Johnson to help the young quarterback realize his full potential.
Johnson’s reputation for building high-powered offenses will be put to the test in Chicago. His challenge will be to craft a system that plays to Williams’ strengths while also improving the offensive line to ensure stability and success.
It’s likely that Williams is excited about the Bears’ new head coach. In January, after playing against the Lions, Williams spoke highly of Johnson’s strategic prowess.
“Just knowing how he was going to play it and countering—it’s something he’s done all year,” Williams said via The Athletic. “It was really cool to watch during our game. I tried to learn something from it. He had counters and wrinkles throughout the game. He’s done really well.”
Now, Johnson will aim to make his mark as a first-time head coach, tasked with leading the Bears back to competitiveness in the NFC North.
