If anyone has been following the Ben Johnson rumors for the Chicago Bears, the trend may now appear that the Lions' offensive coordinator may no longer be the favorite to become the next head coach of the organization.
Entering the week, Johnson seemed to be the favorite but there has been continued reporting this week that the offensive coordinator is seeking alignment with a general manager if he were to take a head coaching job this offseason. Ryan Poles does not offer that alignment for Johnson.
That could be the reason why Albert Breer pointed toward the Jacksonville Jaguars for being the team that will hire Johnson as their head coach given the likelihood of the team also bringing in a general manager who has connections to Johnson.
In another update, Breer doubled down on the idea that Johnson going to the Bears is far from a slam dunk.
Albert Breer says Ben Johnson to the Bears is not a slam dunk BUT notes that Ben has a relationship with Jeff King the Bears Director of player personnel. Also mentions the usual names being considered including Flores. #Bears #DaBears pic.twitter.com/FU8jn47Xsd
— .Moe. (@Bears1Tex) January 4, 2025
Quick note, this is the importance of not taking captions at face value. The tone of the caption does not match the tone of Breer's report. Johnson's connection to Jeff King was a passing mention by Breer, who spent most of the video making the connection between Brian Flores and the Bears. Of course, when it comes to Johnson, Bears fans are desperately trying to cling to any sliver of hope that he will be the team's next head coach.
Hope is fading.
If Johnson does ultimately land with the Jaguars, there will be jokes made at the Bears' expense in terms of them losing out on the cycle's top candidate to Jacksonville. There is no doubt that the merits of the Bears' job have an appeal--Caleb Williams on a rookie contract, but that is quite literally the only thing that would draw a candidate to taking the job. The fact is the Jaguars can also Johnson alignment and more money while also in a far easier division to compete.
There is a much easier path toward the Bears landing Johnson if the organization were to fire Poles. With that being unlikely, it may also be unlikely that Johson will be the next head coach of the Bears.