Chicago Bears named biggest winner in coach hiring cycle for unusual reason

“The Chicago Bears are the biggest winners,” Moton writes for B/R. “They brought in the top candidate among the coordinators, Ben Johnson, who interviewed for vacancies last year but decided to stay with the Detroit Lions because of unfinished business.

“The 38-year-old’s arrival is a strong positive for quarterback Caleb Williams. Although he posted decent passing numbers (3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions with a 62.5 percent completion rate), he didn’t develop steadily through his rookie year … Detroit’s offense may lose some steam without Johnson calling plays, but the Bears have made a splashy coaching move and weakened their strongest division rival.”

There had been some conventional wisdom early this offseason suggesting that Johnson may shy away from the Bears’ job, because he was reluctant to face Dan Campbell and the Lions twice each season, both out of loyalty to Campbell and avoiding going against that loaded roster.

However, Johnson has long eyed this job, and the Bears’ ability to both land him while also dealing the Lions a bit of a blow makes this a major victory for Poles and Chicago.

Last season, the Bears finished dead-last in total offense, averaging 284.6 total yards per game, while averaging just 18.2 points per game. The obvious hope is that Johnson is able to replicate the success he was able to spark in Detroit.

Given Williams’ skill-set, and playmakers such as D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, Cole Kmet, and the resources in free agency to continue building, Johnson may have the chance to actually surpass what his track record suggests is possible with the Bears.