(670 The Score) The Chicago Bears aren’t only amidst the most important head coaching search in the NFL this offseason. They’re also amidst the most important head coaching search in the history of their franchise.
The Bears are set to interview at least 15 candidates for their coaching vacancy in the initial round, which is being conducted virtually. And based on what we heard from Bears brass at Halas Hall on Tuesday, at least five members of the organization – and likely more – are helping general manager Ryan Poles make this decision.
It makes sense on paper. Do all the research you can before making a decision of consequence. But let’s not overcomplicate this, Bears brass. There’s one candidate on the list who stands out above the rest: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Johnson is the best play-caller in the entire NFL. When was the last time the Bears had someone in their organization who was the best at anything? How can you watch the Lions' offense over the past two seasons and not want that for yourself? The Lions are loaded with weapons and have the best offensive line in the NFL, but Johnson has maximized each player to his full potential.
Johnson completely revitalized the trajectory of quarterback Jared Goff's career. Former fourth-round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown has become one of the best wide receivers in the entire league. Jameson Williams had the worst start to a career you could imagine but has become the Lions offense's X-factor. Running back David Montgomery has made the Bears look foolish for letting him walk out the door in free agency.
If Johnson is serious about becoming a head coach now rather than later, there’s no job opening better than the one in Chicago. There are plenty of landmines within the organization that could deter candidates from ever stepping foot into Halas Hall, but the Bears have the ultimate trump card compared to the other five NFL coaching vacancies: 23-year-old quarterback Caleb Williams.
While Williams has obvious flaws and is far from reaching his full potential, what he does possess is that killer, Michael Jordan-esque mentality with the game on the line. Any quarterback can improve on footwork or making the right reads. What you can’t teach is the ability to will your team to victory when the cards are stacked against you.
Don’t forget that Williams staged multiple Bears comebacks in 2024. But Tyrique Stevenson forgetting he plays the game of football, a blocked Cairo Santos game-winning field-goal attempt and Matt Eberflus losing the concept of time robbed the Bears of sealing wins after Williams’ late-game heroics.
Bears fans should be drooling at the thought of pairing Johnson and Williams.
But let’s say Johnson doesn’t see Chicago as his No. 1 destination. Maybe Johnson’s three kids love the Jacksonville Zoo. Or maybe he’s a secret poker shark who wants to scratch that itch in Las Vegas.
Don’t accept that answer, Bears. Give him every reason why he should come to Chicago. In fact, remove the word “no” from Johnson’s vocabulary during this process.
If he wants to become the richest head coach in the NFL, write the check. If he wants a different general manager, fire Poles directly into the sun. If he wants a specific player added to the roster, remind him of the Bears' potential $80 million in cap space this offseason. If he wants president Kevin Warren and Bears ownership to mind their own business when it comes to what happens on the football field, promise him they’ll stay in their offices and suites.
Now, I can already hear the naysayers’ criticism. It goes something like, “We have no proof Ben Johnson can be a head coach.” On paper, you’re right. But if the Bears serious about taking the NFC North and never giving it back, Johnson is your guy.
The Lions are 10-2 in divisional games over the past two seasons. More importantly, Johnson is 5-1 against the Green Bay Packers during his three years as the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
Here’s another fact: the Lions offense had only 16 false starts this season, which was the fourth-lowest figure in the NFL. On the other hand, the Bears had 28, the fourth-most in the league. If you want proof that Johnson can instill a culture of discipline on the football field, there’s your proof.
I understand it’s scary imagining a situation in which Johnson doesn’t translate to the head coaching position. But that doesn’t mean you can overlook that he’s damn good at his job. Every aspect of the Lions that Johnson has touched has made them the Super Bowl frontrunner they are today.
However, the number of candidates and people involved in this Bears coaching search is creating a situation in which the organization may try to be too cute with a hire of this magnitude.
If you haven’t read “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell, I highly recommend it. The book dissects examples of how leaders, CEOs and individuals make difficult and consequential decisions. Gladwell eloquently points out that sometimes having too much information can actually be bad. In fact, Gladwell determines that the best decision-makers usually produce the right choice within seconds because it eliminates the possibility of overthinking.
With that in mind, when I see the Bears interviewing 15 coaching candidates, I don’t see it as this organization “doing its due diligence.” What I see is 14 other candidates confusing a front office that has shown it’s prone to being confused. Every candidate is going to dangle bait on why he’s the one to fix it all, just waiting for one sucker in the room to bite.
My fear is that the Bears are staring directly at the obvious answer but don’t see it as one.
I'm not contending the Bears shouldn’t interview others. But do you really trust the McCaskey family to point out the right individual in a crowded room (or Zoom call) when they’ve exclusively hired losers and dweebs for the majority of their lives?
Do you trust the judgment of Poles, who not only hired Eberflus but kept him when Jim Harbaugh was right there for the taking?
Well, I don’t. In fact, I already have my barf bag nearby at all times just in case the Bears hire Matt Campbell.
And why are there multiple members of the Bears organization with zero football experience in these interview settings? Why should their voices matter in this decision?
They say leave no stone unturned. But if you have a diamond in front of you, I think it’s OK to leave the other stones exactly where they lie.
Don’t believe me about the possibility of the Bears overcomplicating this? Here’s what Eberflus said in the press release announcing Shane Waldron as the Bears’ new offensive coordinator last offseason.
"I also want to thank all the candidates we spoke to throughout the interview process,” Eberflus said. “This was a very exhaustive search, but in the end, I’m grateful the journey led us to Shane.”
Breaking news: Bears fans weren’t grateful for the journey that led to Waldron.
Do you really want Poles spearheading another exhaustive search when he was responsible for that failure?
The Bears can’t afford another coaching swing-and-miss. Fans will always throw out that they’re “officially done” with this team after a season like this, but we all know those are empty threats. Those fans will continue to devote their lives to the gospel of the Chicago Bears no matter what.
However, a wrong decision here may be the straw that breaks a Bears fan’s back. I mean, how could you continue to support this family if they have five consecutive coaching failures?
What keeps sports fans coming back to their crappy team year after year is the idea of hope. Hope that this year is finally the year. Hope that a new regime will actually be better than the one before that let you down. Hope that you’ll one day see your team win a championship before you kick the bucket.
If this goes wrong, the well of hope may finally be dry as long as the McCaskeys own the Bears. The “sell the team” chants will only grow louder until everyone goes quiet after giving up. It’ll be completely understandable if the majority of Chicago collectively finds something else to do with its Sundays.
Here’s a tip: Don’t try to outsmart the rest of the NFL when you’re the dumbest one in the room. For the sake of Williams and the rest of Chicago, just hire Ben Johnson.
Robbie Triano is a producer at 670 The Score. Follow him on X @TheTrianoKid.