Could the Bears have been playing against their future head coach on Sunday?
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is “intrigued” by the job, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The news came out just before the NFC North foes were set to square off in Chicago on Sunday afternoon.
“My understanding is Ben Johnson is intrigued by the Bears job. He is going to be willing to listen,” Pelissero reported. “There’s a lot to like in Chicago with Caleb Williams, tons of cap space, extra draft resources. Also, a major market. They’re expected to break ground on a new stadium next year.”
The Lions defeated the Bears relatively easily, 34-17, on Sunday afternoon.
Detroit has played an interesting role in the change in leadership with the Bears.
It was the Bears’ loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving and poor clock management by then-coach Matt Eberflus during a stretch of games that ended up being the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Johnson is one of the hottest names out there in terms of potential NFL coaches, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there would be interest from the Bears for their vacant job.
Johnson has been linked to jobs previously, including at one point the Commanders open that was filled by Dan Quinn.
The Lions OC went viral earlier this year when he discussed not leaving the Lions for other opportunities, saying that when he looked at the opportunities, he expected that a majority of the coaches hired for head coaching vacancies last offseason would be out of jobs in three years.
“When I look at it from that perspective, if I get the opportunity to go down that road, it’s about how do I get to that second contract,” Johnson said in May. “How do I set myself up that the stars need to align. I’m not gonna do it just to do it,. I love what I’m doing right now, love it. I love where I’m at. My family loves where we’re at. I love the people that we’re doing it with, so I’m not willing to go down the other path yet unless I feel really good about how it’s gonna unfold.”
