People aren’t sure what to make of the Ben Johnson situation. The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator won’t be hired as a head coach anywhere until his team is out of the playoffs. Still, he’s now completed interviews with four teams: New England, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Recent rumors would have you believe that the Raiders are a growing threat for his services, spearheaded by a push from new part-owner Tom Brady. It appears the Patriots are poised to hire Mike Vrabel. Bears fans are left wondering if their preferred candidate is slipping away.
Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog broke through the noise with a recent update. His connections around the NFL have always been solid, which made his new information interesting. It was made clear that nothing had changed. Johnson still wants the Bears job. It is his preference. The key was always whether others inside the organization, aside from Ryan Poles, would get on board with him. As for the Raiders rumors, they are nothing more than noise generated by his agents to improve his price tag.
Ben Johnson appears to have handled his interview well.
Early whispers indicate he made an even better impression than expected, presenting a strong plan for quarterback Caleb Williams along with a vision for how he’d build the team. Team president Kevin Warren seemed impressed, which was an important hurdle to clear. Conversely, Johnson’s fears about the Bears’ power dynamic were assuaged. They presented a clear plan for ensuring roster management and coaching were united, something he was concerned about.
This doesn’t guarantee anything, of course. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the head coaching cycle, it’s that it will be fluid. Things can change quickly. Based on Hughes’s statement, Ben Johnson wants the job. He is eager to work with Caleb Williams. This will come down to money, and recent reports suggest the Bears have no problems shelling out for the guy they want. Johnson will get his money. If he is on board with working alongside Poles, this feels like a partnership that could work.
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