(670 The Score) The Bears officially hired Ben Johnson as their new head coach by finalizing a contract Tuesday.
Johnson, 38, will be introduced by the Bears in a formal press conference Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Halas Hall. He was hired following a coaching search that began in earnest for the Bears at the start of the offseason on Jan. 6 and which featured 17 candidates known to have interviewed for the job.
“A proven leader with winning pedigree and a mind toward innovation,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said of Johnson in a statement. “We are excited to welcome Ben and his family to Chicago as our head coach.
“Throughout our search process, I was thoroughly impressed by Ben’s character, intelligence, leadership and ability to connect. A progressive offensive mind, Ben’s plan for all three phases of our team, which is centered on creating a winning and competitive environment, became evidently clear. Meeting with Ben and gaining an understanding of his process and vision, the more confident we became that Ben is the right leader for our team and that he and I will be great partners in building our team and shaping our franchise for long-term success.
“It is undeniable how passionate Ben is for serving in the role of head coach of the Chicago Bears, and we are primed, equipped and excited to welcome him and his family to Chicago and to commence our process of building a championship-caliber team, together. This is just the beginning.”
Johnson was the Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons and had worked the last six years in Detroit. He became available for an in-person interview starting Monday after the Lions lost to the Commanders in the NFL divisional round Saturday, but the Bears didn't conduct an in-person interview with Johnson before reaching an agreement. Johnson had a virtual interview with the Bears on Jan. 11.
The Bears flew Johnson in to Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling on Tuesday and brought him to Halas Hall to complete his contract. The announcement was made formal at 1 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
“The Chicago Bears are a world-class franchise with a phenomenal history and incredible fanbase,” Johnson said in a statement. “I am thankful to George (McCaskey), Kevin (Warren), Ryan and the entire organization for presenting me and my family with this tremendous opportunity. Having been on the opposing sideline, I can attest to how passionate Bears fans are about this city and their team, and I am honored to be their head coach.
“My family and I are incredibly blessed and fortunate to take this next step in our journey, and I cannot wait to lead our players, our support staff and organization, while doing so at the service of Bears fans. We are looking forward to fully ingraining ourselves in the great city of Chicago as we work to create an impact in this special community. I am excited to partner with Ryan and the entire organization as we work to create a championship-caliber program. We are ready to get to work.”
Johnson broke into the NFL with the Dolphins back in 2012 and has risen the ranks as one of the league’s top assistants. He had been a key lieutenant for Lions head coach Dan Campbell, serving as Detroit's offensive coordinator since 2022. The Lions ranked first in scoring offense and second in total offense this season.
Johnson was a strong candidate for the Raiders’ head coaching vacancy, and Las Vegas was believed to be the top alternative to Chicago.
While the Bears’ search process was meticulous, it coincided with Johnson’s availability. He was the lone candidate to receive a follow-up from the initial interview. That was in order to hire him as head coach.
“We are elated to welcome Ben and his family to the Bears and the greatest city in the world,” McCaskey said. “Ben’s leadership, poise, preparation and detail are evident. We certainly appreciate the first-class manner in which he approached this process. We are excited to see him lead our Bears.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.