As the Chicago Bears' head coaching search heats up, they're getting set to watch one of the top candidates this weekend in Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the league's top scoring offense prepares to take on the Washington COmmanders in the Divisional Round.
Bears fans have long-wanted Johnson to be the next head coach in Chicago. He has been a favorite among the fan base for quite some time.
Yet, some recent reports have suggested Johnson is going to end up coaching the Las Vegas Raiders, not the Bears.
Joining The Pat McAfee Show Friday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter discussed Johnson and both the Bears and the Raiders. His words will not only give Bears hope that Johnson could still come to Chicago, but also that he simply does not make sense in Las Vegas.
To start with, Schefter acknowledged that the Lions are going to lose Johnson. He's not staying in Detroit this time around:
"He is getting a head coaching job. He's getting one."
Adam Schefter doesn't see Ben Johnson picking the Raiders over the Bears
"I know everybody's got Ben Johnson anointed to the Raiders. I'm not in that camp right now," Schefter said.
Well, then. Those are some significant words.
"Why is everybody ignoring Chicago when it comes to Ben Johnson? I don't get it. What am I missing here?" Schefter asked.
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He went on to make the very logical points which he also brought up a couple of days ago.
"If you're going to be very picky ... you're telling me Ben Johnson turned down the chance to coach Jayden Daniels, last year, so he could 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, Sean Payton ... does that make sense to you?" Schefter posed.
McAfee was quick to respond and agreed that, no, it doesn't make sense.
This is exactly what every logical football fan should be (and maybe they have been) saying for a few days now. Sure, the Raiders have their "secret weapon" in minority owner Tom Brady giving Johnson a sales pitch.
But, the obvious worry here is the fact that the Raiders don't have a path to a quarterback. Why would Johnson choose Vegas' quarterback conundrum over working with Caleb Williams?
It truly does not make sense, just as Schefter said.
Anything can happen. Johnson very well could wind up coaching the Raiders. However, if Schefter's words mean anything at all (and they should), then Johnson to the Bears is still an extremely real possibility.