Bears Nearing Deal to Hire Lions’ Ben Johnson as Head Coach
The Chicago Bears are close to finalizing a deal to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
Johnson, 38, has served as the Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons and will take over the position left vacant after Matt Eberflus was fired mid-season.
Following the Lions’ surprising playoff exit to the Washington Commanders on Saturday, Johnson became available for hire. Despite turning down previous offers from teams in recent years, he is now set to lead the Bears and work with quarterback Caleb Williams, who expressed interest in Johnson’s offense earlier this month.
Before the Bears’ 34-17 loss to Detroit in December, Johnson had praised Williams’ performance, noting his impressive stats against the Lions. In two games, Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, threw for 681 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Known for his creative playcalling, Johnson helped the Lions achieve top-10 offensive rankings over the past two seasons, including the second-best offense in 2024 and the top scoring offense in the league with a 15-2 record.
The Bears finished the season 5-12, placing last in the NFC North.
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