Ben Johnson Already Has Home Run Hire Lined Up for Bears' 2025 Staff
By Jovan Alford
After two weeks of head coaching interviews, the Chicago Bears have finally found their next head coach.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chicago is finalizing a deal to make Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as its next head coach. Bears fans wanted Mike Vrabel or Johnson to be the next coach after a disastrous three-year tenure with then-head coach Matt Eberflus.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen have discussed opportunities to join Johnson's staff as the defensive coordinator. However, Russini adds that Johnson is expected to select Allen.
Bear down: Chicago is finalizing a deal to hire Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as its next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Bears are getting their man. pic.twitter.com/UwlLk3wNJZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2025
Lou Anarumo and Dennis Allen have both been discussing opportunities to join Ben Johnson as the defensive coordinator depending on where he landed. He is expected to select Dennis Allen, per source.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 20, 2025
On Monday afternoon, senior NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that league sources believed Johnson was deeply considering the head coaching vacancy with the Bears.
Developing: There are league sources who now believe Ben Johnson is deeply considering the head coach vacancy with the Chicago #Bears, per league sources.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 20, 2025
Nothing is official or ever done until it's done!
We'll have to wait and see which team Johnson formally decides on.… pic.twitter.com/KmvzzkJ9rK
After seeing how things played out this season with Eberflus, the Bears believe Johnson is their guy and he’s assembling an outstanding staff, starting with Allen, who can be the head coach of the defense.
The Saints shockingly fired Allen in November after spending the last 10 years in New Orleans as a defensive coordinator (seven seasons) and head coach (three years). Allen struggled as a head coach in the Saints, posting an 18-25 record.
That said when Allen was a defensive coordinator in New Orleans, the 52-year-old did a solid job leading the unit.
In his last two years as the defensive coordinator with the Saints, they were ranked fourth (19.7 points per game –2021) and fifth in points (21.1 points per game) allowed. New Orleans was also ranked seventh and fourth in yards allowed.
Allen will be taking over a Bears defensive unit ranked 16th in passing yards allowed (217.9), 28th in rushing defense (136.3), and 13th in scoring defense (21.8) this season. While those numbers aren’t great, Chicago does have playmakers at all three levels of the defense, which will help with the turnaround.
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