The Chicago Bears are hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Johnson, 38, had been the Lions’ offensive coordinator since 2022.
The Bears finished the 2024 season 5-12 and in last place in the NFC North, the only team in the division with a record under .500. Chicago fired head coach Matt Eberflus after a 4-8 start to the season — the first time it had fired a head coach midseason.
Johnson began his NFL coaching career in 2012 as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins. He remained with the Dolphins in a variety of offensive roles through 2018, then joined Detroit as an offensive quality control coach in 2019.
In 2022, in Dan Campbell’s second year as head coach, the Lions promoted Johnson to offensive coordinator. Johnson has been credited with helping revive the career of quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 96 touchdowns in the three seasons Johnson was in charge of Detroit’s offense.
Johnson is also known for his use of trick plays, such as the toss-turned-shovel pass the Lions used during their divisional round playoff game against the Washington Commanders.
In the last two offseasons, Johnson has been a coveted name on the coaching market. The Carolina Panthers reportedly tried to interview him before the 2023 season, but he declined. He also reportedly turned down opportunities to interview with the Commanders and the Seattle Seahawks before the 2024 season.
The Bears have struggled for much of the last two decades.
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Since it appeared in the Super Bowl after the 2006 season, Chicago has won only one playoff game and none since after the 2010 season. The Bears’ most recent playoff appearance came after the 2020 season, but they have not finished with a winning record since 2018.
Johnson’s biggest priority in Chicago will be to get more out of quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in last year’s NFL draft. In his rookie season, Williams threw for 3,541 yards, with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He was ranked 17th in passing yards and tied for 15th in passing touchdowns.
The Bears will have the 10th pick in the upcoming draft. Chicago will also have slightly more than $66 million in cap space this offseason, per Over The Cap.
First appeared on www.nbcnews.com