Ben Johnson was always the endgame for the Chicago Bears. Or at least it was for GM Ryan Poles. He knew early on that the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator was the one he wanted to take over the development of Caleb Williams. However, he knew he couldn’t strong-arm the process by cutting everybody else out. He had to let things go at the correct pace. Maybe someone else would emerge. Ultimately, it worked out. He and Johnson hit it off right away, and the 38-year-old took the job mere days after his season ended in the playoffs.
That said, there is no way the Bears went into that pursuit with full expectations of landing Johnson. He could always say no, or another team would swoop in to lure him away. In such a case, the team had to have alternative options on standby. Most would think former head coach Mike McCarthy was the likely target, or Pete Carroll. They would’ve been wrong. A source reached out to SM with an interesting revelation. If the Bears hadn’t been able to land Johnson, they were prepared to make a run at Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
Landing Ben Johnson was best for everybody.
There is no question Freeman is a terrific coach. He took over a prestigious program from Brian Kelly, who’d had great success and somehow surpassed him. The Irish came close to winning the national championship last season before falling to a superior Ohio State team. He is young, energetic, and by all accounts a disciplined coach who holds players to a high standard. The fact that he was a former Bears draft pick likely added to the appeal. It is believed that team president Kevin Warren was the biggest proponent of that idea.
Still, it would’ve been a gamble. Freeman had no NFL coaching experience. Plucking guys straight from college is hit-and-miss at best. Bringing that college style to a veteran locker room might not have gotten the results everybody wanted. Ben Johnson has coached in the NFL for most of his career and understands the challenges of turning around a perennial loser. Add his offensive aptitude on top of all that, and it feels like the Bears got the right guy.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
my best friend’s sister gets $92 an hour on the internet…g she’s been laid off for two months, the previous month her paycheck was $20328 only working at home for a couple of hours each day…check out……. Www.Paycash1.site
Everybody can earn 250$+ daily… You can earn from 10000-15000 a month or even more if you work as a full time job…It’s easy, just follow instructions on this page, read it carefully from start to finish… It’s a flexible job but a good earning opportunity..
go to this site home tab for more detail thank you…… www.Netpay1.com
I’m getting 88 D0llars consistently to deal with net. Q I’ve never accepted like it tends to be reachable anyway one of my most noteworthy buddy got D0llars 27,000 D0llars in three weeks working this basic task and she impacted me to avail…
Take A Look Here….> Www.earnapp1.com
Whatever Plans B, C and D were (if they even existed) it seems Poles likely would have again, selected the path offered to him by upper management — and this time taken Kevin Warren’s lead to ND’s HC Freeman — Plan A is surely going to be the salvation of Ryan Poles’ sorry-assed GM career in Chicago. The Bears will field a competitive team despite Poles’ ineptitude — and we can thank: HC Ben, his competent crew, and our lucky stars (in that order). For those of you who think that is a too-harsh view of our “perpetual rookie” GM… Read more »
I was going to say Rooney rule also. But the Bears interviewed like 25 coaches. The Patriots on the other hand threw it in everyone’s face with Pep Hamilton. Honestly I assumed plan B was Eddie Goerge but that will never be confirmed!