-
Courtney Cronin
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — On Sunday, Jan. 19, the day after the Detroit Lions’ surprising playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, the Chicago Bears discussed whether to fly their hiring committee to Michigan to show Ben Johnson how badly they wanted him to be their head coach, according to a team source.
Johnson, the Lions’ offensive coordinator since 2022 and a top candidate for three straight coaching cycles, had gone dark after interviewing virtually with the Bears on Jan. 11 during Detroit’s first-round bye. League rules prevented Chicago and other teams from meeting with Johnson for a second interview until Jan. 20, two days after Detroit’s season ended.
The Bears’ contingent ultimately decided against making the trip, opting to let Johnson deal with the disappointment of losing as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Johnson had spurned previous head coaching opportunities because he wanted to win a Super Bowl with Detroit, but now he knew he would be moving on.
Though the Bears wanted to respect Johnson’s time and space, there also was a sense of urgency. There was a feeling Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady was making a push for Johnson, and even if the Bears didn’t believe that to be true, there were other openings Johnson might consider. The Bears emphasized “culture and the quarterback” during the interviews, according to someone familiar with the process, and they were convinced Johnson would excel on both counts, including maximizing Caleb Williams‘ potential.
“Having gone through the process, and having interviewed an extensive field of candidates when Ben was clearly No. 1, and [general manager] Ryan [Poles] said we need to go get him, you had to be ready to move,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said.
But before they did, the Bears hosted Tennessee State coach Eddie George on Jan. 19. That put the Bears in compliance with the Rooney Rule, which requires at least two external in-person interviews with minority candidates — Ron Rivera was the other. George’s interview was scheduled at least a week before, two sources said. It was George’s only head coaching interview this cycle.
A source close to George described the interview as a “great experience” that will lead to other coaching opportunities for the former NFL running back. George’s interview was deemed “excellent” by a member of the Bears’ interview committee.
If team president Kevin Warren had any doubt about the favorite of his team’s fan base, it was tempered on the night of the Lions’ loss, when he and his wife, Greta, went to dinner at Old Pueblo Cantina in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
With the game on the bar’s big screen, Bears fan Chris Stein sent two shots of tequila to the Warrens with a note written by Stein’s girlfriend, Ryanne Braun.
“Kevin,
Please, hire Ben!!”
Warren responded by sending back two shots. Message received.
THE BEARS INTERVIEWED 17 candidates, including Mike McCarthy, Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel. Fourteen were done virtually and three at team headquarters.
For two days during Detroit’s first-round bye week, Johnson was bunkered in a conference room at the Lions’ team facility in Allen Park, Michigan. There he conducted four virtual interviews — with the Patriots and Raiders on Jan. 10, followed by the Bears and Jaguars on Jan 11.
As Johnson began his interviews with the Bears, he met one-on-one with Poles for 30 minutes, followed by a two-hour meeting with all seven members of the committee, and then 30 minutes with McCaskey and Warren together.
“The first words out of his mouth were, ‘I want this job,'” McCaskey said.
The search committee, which consisted of Poles, Warren, McCaskey, director of football administration Matt Feinstein, senior player personnel director Jeff King, chief administrative officer Ted Crews and chief human resources officer Liz Geist, graded each interview.
Johnson received the top grade, according to a team source, who said: “He was the leader in the clubhouse.”
Johnson’s credentials included three straight seasons of the Lions finishing in the top five in scoring, including leading the league this season at 33.2 points per game. Quarterback Jared Goff played some of his best football under Johnson, throwing for at least 4,000 yards in each of the past three seasons. And his 64 Total QBR in 51 regular-season starts under Johnson was better than what Goff had under five previous playcallers.
But Johnson emphasized during the interviews that he was more than an offensive mind.
“Listen, it’s no secret that I was being portrayed as an offensive guru,” Johnson said at his introductory news conference. “Whether I was quality control, position coach, tight end coach, receivers coach, coordinator, I’m whatever the job requires me to be.
“And so that’s where I really wanted to let those people know on every call that I had, that there was more substance than maybe I articulated in any media session or what you might see on the sideline.”
One thing Johnson’s agent, Rick Smith, articulated before the interview process started was the importance of being aligned with his general manager.
“Is the GM willing to check his ego at the door as the coach is willing to check his ego at the door so that they get in the same boat and row in the same direction?” Smith said on the 2nd City Gridiron podcast.
Poles was hired on Jan. 25, 2022, two days before the Bears hired Matt Eberflus as head coach. Four days after Eberflus was fired on Nov. 29 with the third-worst win percentage (.304) in franchise history, questions about Poles’ job security and his role in hiring the next coach were raised during a news conference.
Unlike Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who publicly left the door open for a candidate to have sway over changes to Jacksonville’s front office, the Bears remained firm there would be no changes to their structure.
A team source told ESPN that Johnson never requested a change at general manager.
“I truly believe in the character and integrity of this man,” Johnson said of Poles. “… We are going to be locked at the hip and connected every step of the way with all the decisions that are made.”
The Bears do not publicly comment about the contracts of coaches and front office personnel, nor would Poles address whether he has assurances of receiving a contract extension when asked on Jan. 7. According to a team source with knowledge of the situation, Poles’ deal runs through the 2026 season, and the expectation is he will receive an extension to align him with Johnson, who signed a five-year contract with Chicago, a term that is common for first-time head coaches.
What’s less common for first-time head coaches are substantial salaries. He’s believed to be making $13 million per year, whereas Eberflus made $6 million. As one source put it, the Bears “didn’t cut corners” when it came to paying Johnson.
WEARING A CAST on his right hand from having a cyst removed, Williams was training in Florida when he heard the news, and he said he yelled in excitement.
His was among the first calls placed by members of the committee Jan. 20, after Chicago had an agreement in place with Johnson, according to a team source. Not long after, Johnson called his new quarterback on FaceTime.
Two days later, Williams, wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, and tight end Cole Kmet were front row at Johnson’s introductory news conference, a sign of solidarity that was organized by the four players.
Williams, clad in a black suit and leather trench coat, made a quip about the out-of-body experience he felt throughout much of his rookie season that was defined by individual success but also by a scheme that didn’t fit him, coaches being fired and expectations failing to be met.
“That’s why I have this suit on and this aspect because I look like I was in the Matrix,” said Williams, referring to the movie about parallel realities. “That’s how I felt last year.”
Coincidentally, Williams played some of his best ball with Johnson on the other sideline. He threw for 590 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in the two losses to the Lions.
Ben Johnson on Caleb Williams: pic.twitter.com/SgoWs5JFyZ
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 22, 2025
“Having a quarterback helps,” Johnson said during his news conference, with a wry smile.
Williams said Johnson made clear he would be coached to his own strengths, and that he wouldn’t be asked to emulate Goff, who’s not quite as mobile.
“He told me that it’ll be my offense,” Williams said. “He’s going to build around me, but also, he’s going to test me. He’s going to challenge me in the offseason.”
The Bears walked away impressed not only in Johnson’s plan for Williams, but also in the speed at which he has put his staff together. Within six days of being hired, Johnson had named Dennis Allen his defensive coordinator, Declan Doyle his offensive coordinator and retained special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.
“The coaches that kind of rise to the top are the ones that have a plan, and not only just in words, but have relationships where you can get it done,” a team source said.
The Bears landed their top choice, despite a lack of stability in the position. Chicago has hired five full-time head coaches since its last playoff win in 2011, but that doesn’t scare Johnson.
“There’s several reasons why I wanted this job,” Johnson said at his news conference. “The first is, this place. For the last 10-plus years, my family and I have been coming up for a Cubs series every summer. And it doesn’t take long to realize this place is special. These people are special.
“No. 2, is this roster that Ryan’s already built. It is stocked. It’s loaded. Everyone wants to talk about the quarterback, and Caleb, I’m excited to work with you, but it’s going to take more than just you. And there are a lot of pieces already in place. And I can’t wait to get to work with the rest of you guys.”