Now, with all of my thoughts on the other Chicago Bears head coaching prospects, why do I feel Ben Johnson will become the next head coach of the Bears, and why is it a good fit? If you follow me, you know that I had Caleb Williams behind Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels during the draft process. I would have had Michael Penix Jr as well, but his injuries were just too scary for me.
I didn't believe Williams would suck; I had six quarterbacks inside the top 10 of the 2024 NFL draft. So far, five of them are worth that accolade. JJ McCarthy might be worth it, but we won't know for some time yet. While Johnson isn't my first choice for head coach, he is among my top three. I believe that Vrabel, Flores, and Johnson will have good coaching careers when they are hired by teams this year.
When Matt Eberflus was fired earlier last year, my coworkers asked me who I thought would become the Chicago Bears head coach. That was easy, Ben Johnson. I believe he wanted the Bears job last season. Why wouldn't he leave for Washington otherwise? Life is funny because it works in circles and cycles. What do you know about Ben Johnson? Is his coaching parent Dan Campbell? Both coaches started with the Miami Dolphins.
Campbell was hired as an offensive intern in 2010, and Johnson was hired two years later by Joe Philbin. At the time, Mike Sherman was the offensive coordinator. That is a lot of Green Bay Packers influence. Call it what you want, but I know those coaches showed a lot of Brett Favre and Packers game film to train the two offensive-minded coaches. Maybe it is the rebellious teen that makes it seem like Johnson is destined to become a Chicago Bear. Dan Campbell already accomplished that goal.
Johnson knows his offense. The national media will tell you he isn't a fit for Caleb Williams because the plays need to be on time. However, if you watch "How the Lions Outsmart the NFL" on YouTube or any other film review on the offense, you will see that the scheme fits Williams. Too often, the national media reverts to a player's college play style and not what they can become in the NFL.
Ben Johnson would also help Ryan Poles with the roster because he knows what it takes to be successful, at least on the offensive side of the football, much like what Kliff Kingsbury tried to do at college. Peyton Manning did as an Indianapolis Colts. Sometimes, a great offense makes a good defense. That is exactly what the Detroit Lions are doing to the NFL.