The Chicago Bears aren’t playing today. And after Thursday’s brutal performance, I am glad that we do not have to see them play today. Sunday’s Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings hate-watch doesn’t kick off until 3:25 p.m. CT. So let’s spend some time catching up on the latest head coaching rumors.
Adam Schefter says the Bears are “in play” for Ben Johnson
Based on the reporting done by NFL insiders like ESPN’s Adam Schefter, I feel as if it is safe to say that Ben Johnson is the top candidate for the Bears gig. This doesn’t mean he will get it. But there seems to be mutual interest.
Here are some notable quotes from Schefty during a Dec. 26 appearance on Pat McAfee’s show:
"I think Ben Johnson has interest in the Chicago Bears job..I'm sure they're gonna request to interview him and I'm sure that he's gonna talk to them..He's definitely in play and we'll see what happens from there" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/HKo3CDheO5
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 26, 2024 “I think he has interest in the job. Whereas, early on, I don’t know that that was going to be the case. But I think there’s enough there that he’s going to have interest at the very least talking to them, and seeing whether or not it’s worth pursuing. I’m sure they’re going to request to interview him, I’m sure he’s going to talk to them, then it’s up to the two sides whether or not there’s a match there.”If you’ll recall, Schefter threw some cold water on an early batch of rumors connecting Ben Johnson and the Bears. However, the NFL insider seems to be relaying that there is interest from Johnson’s side.
“People recognize that Caleb is the future there. They want the right guy to work with Caleb, and a lot of people believe that Ben Johnson will be that guy. I definitely expect him to be a candidate, in play, and then let’s see what happens from there.”That is an interesting bit of framing from Schefter. Again, Ben Johnson appears to be the top candidate for the Bears job. But he won’t be alone.
The Bears won’t be alone in pursuing Ben Johnson
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has been all over Bears news and nuggets over the last year, so I am keeping tabs on his musings. Here is the latest from Breer on Johnson:
“I think a year ago, the Bears would have been at the top of Ben Johnson’s list based on where they were, based on that they had the No. 1 pick. I don’t know if that is the case anymore. I think his approach is going to be a little bit different this time around. I think Jacksonville, a team like that, will be a better fit for him. But I do think that he’ll take an interview.
I do think he’ll take an interview with the Bears. I think he’s gonna be more selective this time around. He’s not going to interview with everybody. It won’t be a world tour the way it was the last couple of years for him. He is only going to take interviews with teams that he sees as viable places for him to land. So I think the Bears will get an interview.”
For more from Albert Breer, you can watch his entire video here:
On the one hand, Albert Breer mentioning that Ben Johnson will interview only with teams he is serious about and adding that he expects the Bears to get an interview says everything we need to know about this situation. However, Breer mentioning the Jaguars as a team that could be a fit for him serves as a reminder that Chicago’s football team won’t be alone in pursuing Johnson. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints also have openings at their respective head coach positions. I can imagine that 3-4 other teams could join this group after the regular season ends next week.
Jaylon Johnson has a list of preferred candidates
During Thursday’s broadcast, Amazon Prime’s sideline reporter relayed a conversation with Jaylon Johnson, in which the Pro Bowl cornerback rattled off some thoughts on the team’s upcoming search for a head coach.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson saying he wants an offensive head coach and name-checking Ben Johnson, Joe Brady, and Kliff Kingsbury is … SOMETHING.
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@bn-bears.bsky.social) December 26, 2024 at 9:08 PMThat even a defensive player wants an offensive-leaning head coach feels telling. During his weekly radio appearance on 670 The Score, Johnson added Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn and Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores to his wish list (which already included Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Joe Brady, and Kliff Kingsbury). Johnson also expanded on what he was looking for in the Bears’ next head coach — specifying how he valued stability moving forward:
“It doesn’t matter if you’re drafting (No. 1 overall) or the last pick with Brock Purdy, if you don’t have any stability, if you don’t have somebody who’s going to be here for a long time that you can develop with and grow and learn a system, then it’s not going to be good for that team. At the end of the day, we all need a quarterback to lead our team and to put up points. I don’t think there’s any team that’s won a Super Bowl that didn’t have a quarterback to get them there. To me, it starts with stability and having a head coach or offensive coordinator that you can build with.”
The Bears haven’t had stability in their organization since parting ways with Lovie Smith after the 2012 season. And when the team hires its next head coach, it will be the sixth different hire by the franchise. BN Bears has been around since 2017 and we’ve seen four different head coaches and seven offensive coordinators. The only consistency around here is that it has been consistently a mess at Halas Hall.
© Peter van den Berg-Imagn ImagesOther notes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield set career-highs in passing yards and touchdowns (and continues to add onto those numbers as I write this post). Liam Coen, the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, is a rumored Bears head coach candidate. You might recall that Coen was a Bears OC candidate last offseason. It sure seems like they missed the boat here. That Shane Waldron hire looks all kinds of costly right now. You can read Patrick Flowers’ profile on Coen here. Seahawks legend Richard Sherman believes Pete Carroll could be what the Bears need as a coach. Sherman, who provides analysis on Amazon’s Prime NFL coverage, and Geno Smith (Seattle’s current QB who played for Carroll before his departure from the team last offseason) make a pitch for Carroll to be the next head coach for Chicago’s football team. (Marquee) Even if the 73-year-old Pete Carroll isn’t a fit for the Chicago Bears in 2025, Mark Potash (Sun-Times) is right to point out that this franchise needs to find someone like him. I truly think that “leader of men” chatter is nothing more than people using a catchy buzzword. Seeing this reminds me that history finds a weird way of repeating itself:Albert Breer's comment that Bears want to hire a "leader of men" and that means a Vrabel-type and not a Ben Johnson-type.I can say whoever Bears hire, whether it's Johnson, Vrabel, Pete Carroll or Vince Lombardi's ghost, you know what all of them will be? A leader of men. pic.twitter.com/tWLn4r12vY
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) December 28, 2024 Read More Details
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