Ben Johnson is hardly the first innovated offensive coordinator to become a popular head coach candidate. But unlike many of his peers, Johnson waited multiple hiring cycles as Lions play-caller to handpick his desired spot, infamously turning down an opportunity to coach the Commanders before the 2024 season. (It worked out pretty well for Washington, who made the playoffs last year under coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.)
That desired role opened up in the Lions’ own division, when the Bears fired Matt Eberflus after a disastrous rookie season for quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Johnson’s mission is clear — do what he did in Detroit with Jared Goff and change Williams’ suddenly murky career trajectory.
Like in Detroit, Johnson will be calling plays from his uber-versatile system and has a talented group of offensive personnel to work with, as the Bears overhauled the offensive line in free agency and added tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III with their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. But also like Detroit, there may be some early growing pains as well.