While I watched in admiration of Ben Johnson’s Detroit Lions offense, I could not stop thinking about what NFL Network Ian Rapoport had to say about the rumored Chicago Bears head coach candidate last week.
This particular exchange between RapSheet and Rich Eisen from a few days ago has stuck with me for a few days. In naming off Bears candidates, Rapoport refers to Ben Johnson as different and it led to this back-and-forth:
Rapoport: You got Ben Johnson, who is a little bit different, but really good.
Eisen: Why is Ben Johnson different?
Rapoport: Look, I think Ben Johnson is a really, really, really, really good head coach candidate. It’s just that you have Vrabel who is sort of more a front-of-the-room leader of men, a hard-driving, disciplinarian type of dude. Aaron Glenn has done an excellent job as a defensive coordinator, but more of like a rah-rah spirited players type of guy. Ben Johnson is clearly, offensive playcalling-wise, the top. Is he a front-of-the-room leader of men type? Maybe. Leaders come in all different forms.
You can watch the full segment here:
? @RapSheet Who's on the radar to become the next head coach in Chicago for Caleb Williams & Co.?#NFL #DaBears pic.twitter.com/Ulq6T5eEuD
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) December 11, 2024Ben Johnson is still a top candidate
Even with that quote sticking in my craw for a few days, Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson remains one of the best candidates for the Chicago Bears head coach position. Ian Rapoport is right. Leaders come in all different types of styles. Granted, we don’t know Johnson’s style as a head coach. And we don’t know if his success as an offensive coordinator will translate into greatness as a head coach. However, it is impossible not to like what his offenses have done (so long as your favorite team’s defense isn’t on the receiving end).
BEARS COACHING SEARCH: Ben Johnson is an Offensive Innovator
Detroit’s offense ranks first in scoring and second in total yards. Its passing offense ranks in second in yards and third in touchdown throws with Jared Goff pulling the trigger as the team’s quarterback. Goff’s ascent under Ben Johnson’s watchful eye makes it easy to dream big when thinking about what he could do with Caleb Williams under center. Meanwhile, the ground game ranks sixth in yards, third in rushing scores, and fourth in attempts. The idea of running a balanced offense with dynamic ball carriers to go with a potent passing game pushes his candidacy to another level for me.
Lions OC Ben Johnson has a different vibe than other rumored Bears head coach candidates. And that is OK with me. Maybe Chicago’s football team *NEEDS* a “different” type of coach this time around. This franchise has failed at so many different turns since parting ways with Lovie Smith after the 2012 season. Perhaps it would be wise to try something unconventional by this team’s standards.
MORE: Ranking Chicago Bears Head Coach Candidates
In the end, I hope the upcoming Bears head coach search is more exhaustive than it is exhausting. There are good candidates to choose from and there is so much the right candidate candidate can do for this team. Armed with more than $80 million in cap space (h/t OverTheCap) and a projected top-10 pick, this team is well-positioned to reel in a good candidate to help elevate an underperforming roster. If he is a little bit “different” is all right with me, so long as they win games.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the Ian Rapoport video above is less about Ben Johnson being different and has more to do with the different leadership styles the Bears can choose from based on the candidates who have been connected to the job to this point. Having options is a good thing. I hope the Bears can choose the right one for a change.
Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson / Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Read More Details
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