The Chicago Bears are looking to get things turned around after an extremely disappointing season for the franchise and first-overall pick Caleb Williams. Chicago dismissed head coach Matt Eberflus in the middle of its 5-12 campaign, and now believes it has the right guy to get the train back on track.
The Bears hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on Monday.
“The (Bears) are finalizing a deal that will make (Lions) OC Ben Johnson the franchise’s next head coach, per (Adam Schefter). Johnson finally takes a head coaching job — staying in the NFC North and teaming up with Caleb Williams,” reported NFL insider Ari Meirov.
Meirov then had an interesting follow-up to his initial report.
“You don’t often see this in the NFL coaching cycle: The (Bears) are hiring Ben Johnson without even having an official in-person interview. A virtual meeting and backchannel conversations with those close to Johnson was enough — and they sealed the deal today. Johnson is now set to fly to Chicago to meet everyone and sign his contract.”
You don’t often see this in the NFL coaching cycle: The #Bears are hiring Ben Johnson without even having an official in-person interview. A virtual meeting and backchannel conversations with those close to Johnson was enough — and they sealed the deal today. Johnson is now set… https://t.co/5QdPTDoGmE
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 20, 2025
Fans reacted to the interesting news on social media.
“That’s because he declined the job last year causing the Bears to hold onto Eberflus. This has been in the making since last offseason,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“This is definitely the Bears way!! HTH do you hire the HC without meeting him in person?? This is the McCaskeys!!! Josh McDaniels 2.0 incoming. Great OC but not a good HC!!!” one fan added.
“Something’s off. He didn’t want to tour the facility & sit down with the people he’ll be working for? Maybe sit down with Caleb? Last year he cancels the in-person interviews at the last minute. This year he doesn’t even schedule them. I don’t understand the rush on either side,” another fan added.
“Ben was worried about his future instead of locking in on the Lions. Idk if i hate that or just respect it,” one fan added.
“He was the obvious prized possession this cycle. No brainer decision,” someone else added.
It’ll be interesting to see how the hire and strange process pan out.
