- The Chicago Bears haven’t been to the NFL playoffs since 2020, and haven’t won a playoff game since 2010.
- The Bears finished last in the NFC North for the third season in a row, and fired head coach Matt Eberflus after 12 games this season.
- Thomas Brown took over in the interim, but the Bears are turning to Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach.
The Chicago Bears have been in the NFC cellar for three straight years now, and even the drafting of #1 pick Caleb Williams has stopped that slide. Head coach Matt Eberflus tried to turn things around, but after 46 games (and 12 games this season), the Bears gave him his walking papers.
Thomas Brown was the team’s interim coach as the Bears finished 5-12, and now the team has turned to Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be their 19th head coach.
Johnson Guided Detroit Offense to Top of League, Will Try to Help Williams
The Bears’ hire of Johnson was announced on Monday, January 20, one day after Johnson’s Lions were eliminated in the divisional round. The Lions fell 45-31 to the Washington Commanders at home as the #1 seed in the NFC. The details are still being finalized.
The Lions were definitely a popular pick in NFL same-game parlay contests, but defensive injuries played a big part in their downfall. It was also a tough game for Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, who had four interceptions on the day. But that shouldn’t dispel how the Lions performed on offense this season.
Detroit finished second to Baltimore in offensive yards per game, second to Cincinnati in passing yards per game, sixth in rushing yards per game, and they led the league with 33.2 points per game. Goff had the best season of his career, completing 72.4% of his passes for 4,629 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Much of that was down to Johnson’s stewardship as he worked his way through the ranks in Detroit.
Johnson was their offensive quality control coach in 2019, the tight-ends coach in 2020 and 2021 before moving to the passing game coordinator. He has been the offensive coordinator since 2022, and was also highly coveted by teams around the league last season.
Can Ben Johnson Succeed in Chicago?
Johnson is going to have his hands full in his first experience as an NFL head coach. The Bears were dead last in the NFL in offensive yards, 31st in passing yards, 25th in rushing yards, and 28th in points. #1 pick Caleb Williams struggled in his first NFL season, completing 62.5% of his passes for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Johnson will be very familiar with Williams, having faced the Bears twice this season with Detroit. Two of Williams’ better games came against the Lions. He was 20-of-39 for 256 yards and three touchdowns with no picks in a 23-20 loss in Detroit in Week 13. Three weeks later, Williams was 26-of-40 for 334 yards and two more scores (with no picks) in a 34-17 loss at home. Reportedly, Williams really wanted the Bears to hire Johnson.
It should also be said that the Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on November 12 as the offense had just 142 yards in a 19-3 home loss to New England.
There are other issues for the Bears, such as the offensive line. Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times, 16 more than Houston’s C.J. Stroud. There were many times that Williams held on to the ball too long, but there were more times that he simply had no time. Johnson will also be reunited with running back D’Andre Swift, who spent three years in Detroit with Johnson. Swift ran for 1,059 yards in Philadelphia in 2023, then he ran for 959 yards this season.
The potential is there, but the Bears have to sort out their issues up front to boost their NFL betting lines and hopes for next season. Johnson will have his hands full in Chicago.
