Sound the alarm. This is now more than just a rumor. It's more than just a fun idea. The Chicago Bears may actually be the team to end up hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be their next head coach.
Fans have speculated over this for weeks. Analysts, columnists and insiders have offered countless updates and plenty of insight on the topic. But, as of Tuesday morning, we received the biggest update yet.
On NFL Network's Good Morning Football, insider Tom Pelissero joined Peter Schrager to offer his most recent insight on the head coaching openings and current candidates. Of course, he brought up Johnson right away and dove right into Chicago.
"It doesn't have to be the perfect job," Pelissero noted.
This was telling since it seemed, just a few weeks ago, that Johnson was looking for the "perfect" job, so to speak. Pelissero did say he'd like to have alignment with the GM, so if the Bears can sell him on that (tall task), then maybe we're in business.
Now, on to the more juicy pieces of Pelissero's report.
"The job that comes up more than any other is within the division. It is the Chicago Bears. I am told Ben Johnson is intrigued by that job ... when it comes time to interview for that job, he is going to listen," the insider said.
Tom Pelissero believes the Bears are the favorite to land Ben Johnson
To make things even more interesting, Pelissero poured another gallon of gas on the fire.
"Right now if you're asking me where does Ben Johnson end up, if he takes a job, right now I would say your best bet is Chicago," he said.
There you have it. Johnson to the Bears, confirmed.
OK, not quite. But, this is the biggest report we've heard or seen, yet, on Johnson and his connection to the Bears' head coaching vacancy.
While Johnson looks like he's the leader in the clubhouse, the Bears will obviously do their due diligence on many candidates, including one of the other notable names available, Mike Vrabel.
More Bears news:
As of this week, Vrabel now has the freedom to interview for jobs after his agreement with the Cleveland Browns ran out. He had been a consultant for Cleveland this year, but now will look to get back into coaching.
Vrabel will probably be the tone-setter while Johnson is going to bring the offensive innovation this Bears team has lacked for years now. Which candidate will Ryan Poles wind up going with?
One thing seems certain, at least right now, and that's the idea that either one is going to be an improvement from Matt Eberflus. If it is Johnson, the hope is that he can come in and hold players accountable while changing the culture. Even current players have acknowledged this is precisely what the team needs, so that has to be atop the priority list for Poles.
Johnson to Chicago? We're getting closer and closer to this becoming a reality.