Matt Eberflus' Replacement as Bears Head Coach is Clear Following Latest Report

The Chicago Bears haven't finished an NFL season with an above-.500 record since they won 12 games back in 2018. That trend is projected to end this year as the Bears are 4-3 ahead of their Week 9 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals, putting them on pace for 10 victories if their current trajectory holds steady.

Having said that, reality could hit the Bears square in the face during the second half of the season. According to Tankathon, Chicago owns the hardest remaining schedule with their final 10 opponents averaging a 63.2% win percentage.

In other words, it's going to take a strong effort for the Bears to make the playoffs and end the year with a winning record. If they fail, head coach Matt Eberflus could be looking at the unemployment line.

With that being said, Eberflus' potential successor may have already been revealed.

Bears Rumors: Will Ben Johnson Replace Matt Eberflus?

On Tuesday's edition of the "Kap and J Hood" podcast, NFL insider Albert Breer revealed that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was interested in coaching the Bears last season. Johnson ended up staying in Detroit after Chicago general manager Ryan Poles decided to run it back with Eberflus.

Johnson's name often appears whenever head coaching jobs open. The 38-year-old is a big reason why the Lions' offense is among the most dangerous units in the NFL. He started making an impact when he was hired as an offensive quality control coach in 2019, eventually resulting in his being named Detroit's OC ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Since taking on his current role, the Lions have thrived offensively under Johnson's guidance. Detroit scored the fifth-most points in 2022 and 2023 before going on to average a league-best 33.4 points per game this season.

For comparison, the Bears have ranked 23rd, 18th, and 16th, respectively, in those seasons.

Even though Johnson has yet to hold an NFL head coaching job, he could be exactly what the Bears need to reach the next level. His offensive impact is a big reason why the Lions returned to the playoffs last season following a six-year absence. That's the type of help the Bears could use after missing the last three postseasons.

With a talented mind for the game, Johnson will likely attract plenty of attention from coach-hungry franchises this offseason. He should be at the top of the Bears' list if they end up firing Eberflus, however, it's clear that they'll likely face stiff competition if that's the case.

Hopefully, the Bears don't regret not hiring Johnson when they had the chance last coaching cycle.

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