No NFL head coaching candidate is being linked to another team in this cycle like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is to the Chicago Bears.
Johnson reportedly wanted the Bears job in the 2024 offseason. However, general manager Ryan Poles decided to give Matt Eberflus another crack at it with a rookie quarterback’s development hanging in the balance. The decision ultimately backfired as Eberflus was fired the day after Johnson’s Lions got the better of Chicago on Thanksgiving.
Johnson is not a rookie to head coaching interviews. He interviewed for gigs with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts after the 2022 season. He interviewed with the Carolina Panthers last year and removed his name from consideration for the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks gigs.
Ben Johnson isn’t good at interviews
It appeared Johnson didn’t want those jobs. However, a new wrinkle has surfaced about the 38-year-old coach. Per ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, there are questions about Johnson’s capacity to lead an NFL franchise. He apparently isn’t great at interviews.
“Yes, the whispers about him struggling in certain interview settings in the past are there, but Johnson says he has learned from the experience,” Fowler wrote.
While Johnson might be better in a head coaching interview, one has to remember any incoming head coach of the Bears would have to deal with Chicago’s media, not something for the faint of heart.
Would Johnson make a good head coach for the Chicago Bears?
Graziano is concerned about Johnson’s ability to transition from being an offensive coordinator to head coach.
“No question about it, Johnson would be a huge help for Williams as an offensive playcaller and play designer,” Graziano wrote. “But the question when bringing in the hot coordinator of the moment is what kind of head coach he will be.”
The front office should be able to filter whether Johnson is capable of being a head coach in the league. However, there also should be healthy skepticism that Poles can decipher that problem. In addition to choosing Eberflus, Poles passed on offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to hire Shane Waldron. Waldron lasted weeks shorter than Eberflus did in 2024.
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