Report: Chicago Bears to hire Lions OC Ben Johnson as head coach

Caleb Williams has to be smiling ear-to-ear. The Chicago Bears have reeled in their big fish, finalizing a deal to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“A new day in Chicago: The #Bears are finalizing a deal to hire Ben Johnson as their head coach, per sources,” Pelissero posted on X. “Johnson is set to fly there soon and contract parameters are in place. Barring a last-minute snag, the #Lions OC lands with an NFC North rival.”

Moreover, Johnson became available after the Lions fell to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round. Detroit’s offense had an impressive evening, but they weren’t able to overcome a slew of turnovers, as the No. 1 seed fell on Saturday.

Still, the offensive guru was the most sought-after candidate in the NFL throughout this year’s coaching carousel. In the end, the Bears won out, as the chance to work with the impressive Williams ahead of his sophomore season was too much for Johnson to pass up.

As for his defensive coordinator, which will become paramount, “Lou Anarumo and Dennis Allen have both been discussing opportunities to join Ben Johnson as the defensive coordinator depending on where he landed,” Diana Russini of The Athletic reported. “He is expected to select Dennis Allen, per source.”

All told, the Bears were the front-runner for Johnson from the get-go, before a push by Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders had them circling the Lions offensive coordinator. ESPN’s Adam Schefter never believed the smoke though, connecting Johnson to Chicago over the past few days.

“Well, I know everybody has got Ben Johnson anointed to the Raiders. I’m not in that camp right now,” Schefter said, via The Pat McAfee Show. “So, I have to believe it before I see it. Again, I know that this Raiders freight train has gathered a whole lot of steam – and I don’t want to slow it down because, by the way, I want to say, for the record, it could happen. He could be the coach there. But I am not just convinced just yet that that’s going to be the way it’s going to be. 

“If you’re picking the Raiders? You’re telling me that Ben Johnson turned down the chance to go coach Jayden Daniels last year, turned that down, so he can go to a place this year in Las Vegas without a top pick, without a quarterback, that plays in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, Andy Reid, Jim Harbaugh, and Sean Payton? Does that make sense to you? I’m just wondering. Like, I’m just laying it out there like that.”

It’s official now, and Ben Johnson will look to lead the Chicago Bears into a new, successful era, with plenty of hype behind them in the NFC North.