The Chicago Bears don’t just like having Ben Johnson as their new head coach. They absolutely love having Ben Johnson as their new head coach.
The Bears fired Matt Eberfuls in the middle of a 5-12 season and went all-out to hire Johnson even as he was serving as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator in the playoffs. Ultimately, the two sides agreed on a contract worth $13 million per season to bring him to Chicago with the hopes that he can help Caleb Williams make a leap in his second year.
All of this sounds great to the Bears but the rest of the league isn’t so sure. While Johnson was the most high-profile hire in this year’s coaching cycle some around the NFL remain skeptical and it showed up in a survey released on Wednesday morning.
NFL Staffers Rank Mike Vrabel Ahead of Ben Johnson Among Recent Coaching Hires
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe conducted a survey of 10 NFL personnel executives and coaches asking them to assess each coach’s fit and rank their top five hires. While Johnson finished tied for second in the poll along with new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll with 33 points, he finished well behind Mike Vrabel, who finished with 48 points and nine first-place votes after he was hired by the New England Patriots earlier this month.
Johnson has been the hottest coaching candidate dating back to last year’s coaching cycle but was selective with his first opportunity. While the Bears has the opportunity to work with a No. 1 overall pick at quarterback – as he did with Jared Goff in Detroit – some executives wonder if he’ll be able to copy that success in Chicago.
While a former head coach liked the hire if he could bring “Dan Campbell’s program focus with him,” another executive had his doubts.
“I’m still unclear on the fit,” The anonymous executive said. “I just think Johnson is intrigued by the quarterback and his physical skill set.”
While there are questions about Johnson, it shouldn’t be a major concern. Vrabel won the poll with nine first place votes and drew praise for his previous experience with the Tennessee Titans and his previous link to Bill Belichick as a player that won three Super Bowl titles with the Patriots.
Johnson doesn’t have previous head coaching experience but he was connected with a successful operation in Detroit where the Lions went to the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and posted a NFC-best 15-2 record last season.
Perhaps there would have been some more hype around the hire if the Lions went on to win the Super Bowl but the Bears have the guy they wanted and that should lead to good things heading into 2025.