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Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson surprised many when he chose not to take a head coaching position last offseason, but he reportedly was eyeing a team that didn’t have an opening.
Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer said during a radio appearance that Johnson was interested in the Chicago Bears’ head coaching position, but the team decided to retain Matt Eberflus.
“He was definitely connected to the Chicago job last year. … There were some people who thought that was the one he wanted, and obviously, it didn’t come open.”
Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Johnson interviewed with the Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons this past offseason.
He reportedly turned down an interview request with the Tennessee Titans, and in 2023, he turned down an in-person interview opportunity with the Carolina Panthers when he was considered the favorite to land the job.
Johnson told Birkett that while he felt like he was ready for a head coaching position, he still wanted to wait for the right situation to present itself.
“Something that really resonates with me is, OK, eight openings this past year. What would you set the over-under in three years, how many still have jobs?” Johnson said. “I’d say there’s a good chance five of them are out of jobs in three years. And so, when I look at it from that perspective, if I get the opportunity to go down that road, it’s about how do I get to that second contract, how do I set myself up that if the stars need to align? I’m not going to do it just to do it. I love what I’m doing right now. Love it. Love it. I love where I’m at. My family loves where we’re at. Love the people that we’re doing it with, and so I’m not willing to go down the other path yet unless I feel really good about how it’s going to unfold.”
If the Bears move on from Eberflus and pursue Johnson, he would have the opportunity to coach one of the most promising young players in the NFL in 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. The rookie quarterback has already shown flashes of brilliance, and pairing him with an offensive guru like Johnson would be an attractive idea for Chicago.
Still, there will likely be stiff competition for Johnson’s services, as he will once again be one of the most popular candidates for head coach openings this offseason.
