Bears hire Ben Johnson: Adam Schefter names top candidate for defensive coordinator

The Chicago Bears entered the offseason in search of a new head coach to replace Matt Eberflus. They found their man Monday, finalizing a deal to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Now, it’s incumbent upon Johnson to assemble a coaching staff in Chicago. Johnson’s most important hire will be that of a defensive coordinator and according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is the “leading candidate” for the job.

.@AdamSchefter believes the "leading candidate" for the Bears' defensive coordinator position is former Saints head coach Dennis Allen 😯 pic.twitter.com/CFflYSAqv3

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 20, 2025

“We’re talking about Ben Johnson taking over the offensive side of the football, so naturally, the defensive side will be key,” Schefter said on NFL Live. “The leading candidate to become his defensive coordinator in Chicago is going to be former Saints head coach Dennis Allen. So, if you could imagine getting Ben Johnson to run the offense and Dennis Allen to run the defense, that will be quite a combination in Chicago. Now, there is a process you have to go through, but in the end, I do believe Dennis Allen is the leading candidate to become the Bears next defensive coordinator.

“It will be up to somebody to take that job away from him and I can already envision Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen working together in tandem, in Chicago with Allen running that defense there and that would be a big-time hire for Ben Johnson who has been busy assembling a staff for whichever job he was going to take.”

Bears hiring Ben Johnson, quickly moving to filling out coaching staff

Allen, 52, was fired by the Saints in November after a 2-7 start to the 2024 season. He went 18-25 in New Orleans after taking over for Sean Payton in February 2022. Prior to his promotion, Allen spent the previous seven seasons as the Saints’ defensive coordinator under Payton. New Orleans’ defense steadily improved under Allen, becoming a top-five unit by the 2020 season. Under his tutelage, players such as linebacker Demario Davis, defensive end Cameron Jordan and cornerback Marshon Lattimore enjoyed career seasons.

Johnson was the most sought-after head coaching candidate this hiring cycle, orchestrating a top-five offense in football over the last three seasons in Detroit. The 38-year-old might be the most innovative offensive play-caller in the game and deserves credit for getting the best out of quarterback Jared Goff. The Bears need more from Caleb Williams and are banking on the partnership with Johnson to be a winning one.