The Chicago Bears are reportedly finalizing a deal to hire Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, as their new head coach. Johnson is one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL and has been a big part of the Lions’ recent success; now, he’ll face the challenge of leading the Bears.
Ben Johnson was a household name in Detroit after making the Lions’ offense one of the league’s most dynamic units. His quarterback, Jared Goff, was reinvigorated under his guidance, and the Lions were the best in scoring and total offense in the league. He remained a hot candidate for head coaching jobs throughout the league because of his creativity in designing plays and getting the best out of his players.
The move is expected to occur after weeks of speculations and interviews, after which Johnson said that he would finally accept the Bears’ offer as a new direction for the team.
The team came off a dreadful season, yearning for an offense leader that would unlock their young quarterback, Justin Fields. For management, there is no better candidate who could bring innovative ideas and a win-at-all-cost mentality to their franchise than Johnson.
Bears GM Ryan Poles said of the move, “Ben Johnson is a vision of a man who has shown he can create winning offenses. We are optimistic that he will lead us to sustained success.”
Challenges Ahead for Johnson
High expectations come along with significant challenges for Johnson on his arrival in Chicago. This is because the Bears have not demonstrated consistency on the ball, yet Fields, with his glimmers of greatness, has not actually fulfilled his great potential.
Johnson faces a number of critical areas. Among them:
- Justin Fields’ Development: It is going to be Johnson’s biggest task to make Fields develop into a quarterback who can really take the Bears to the point of playoff contention.
- Improving the Offense: Fields and a robust running game are crucial to team success.
- Improving Team Culture: Johnson will need to instill a winning culture and create a cohesive locker room.
Impact on the Lions
Johnson’s departure is a huge blow to the Lions as they will need to find an offensive coordinator who can carry on the positive trend. “Ben was a huge part of what we accomplished here, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter,” Head coach Dan Campbell said.
Fans of both teams have reacted in mixed ways to the news. Bears fans are hopeful that there is a potential for an offensive turnaround under Johnson’s leadership, but Lions fans feel sad at losing a coach who played a very important role in their resurgence.
Hiring Ben Johnson as head coach is going to mark the most pivotal point in franchise history for the Chicago Bears. Famous for his knowledge of offenses and innovative way of doing things, Johnson can definitely make a contender out of the Bears.
Johnson’s entry as head coach has everyone keeping a close watch on Chicago, trying to gauge the future the team holds and if the move could finally bring Bears fans’ hope back on track toward seeing success in action.
