The Chicago Bears haven’t made any decision regarding the fate of head coach Matt Eberflus. That isn’t a surprise. Historically, the organization hasn’t done that until after a season is over. However, that doesn’t mean the team brass doesn’t already have some idea of what they’re going to do. Any decision comes down to team chairman George McCaskey, team president Kevin Warren, and GM Ryan Poles. Rumors have persisted for weeks that Eberflus is on shaky ground. They want to see a strong finish. Otherwise, it’s felt the team will reset at head coach, likely in anticipation of drafting a new quarterback.
A lot can still happen, but there is a strong possibility the Bears at least have an idea of which coaches they may seek out if Eberflus is gone. Insider Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports provided some evidence of that. He provided an update on television before the Christmas Eve slate of games, pinpointing teams likely to make a coaching change. Chicago is indeed one he has an eye on. Not only that, but he brought up a name they plan to pursue if a change does happen.
Ben Johnson replacing Matt Eberflus wouldn’t be a surprise.
Many view the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator as the hottest name of this cycle, and for good reason. Since taking over play calling duties last year, the Lions have become a top-5 offense in the NFL. They currently rank 4th in passing and 2nd in rushing. Detroit is one win away from clinching their first division title since 1993. That is a tremendous accomplishment. Johnson is only 37 years old and lauded for his intelligence and communication ability. If anybody can oversee the development of a young quarterback, it would be him.
The problem from the Bears’ perspective is they wouldn’t be the only team vying for his services. Others like Carolina and Los Angeles are expected to make a run at him too. It will come down to whether he is interested in taking over this roster. Chicago does have an ascending defense and some strong offensive pieces. He would also be able to pick his own quarterback. This will be something to watch next month. Matt Eberflus will coach the final game of the year on January 7th. We will likely know the Bears’ plans within 48 hours of that conclusion.
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