The Chicago Bears have hired Ben Johnson to be their next head coach, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The coveted coaching candidate previously served the NFC North rival as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and will now stay in the division.

Ben Johnson helped lead a high-powered Detroit Lions offense over the last three seasons, leading the league in scoring for the regular season with 33.2 PPG. Johnson also had the 2nd-best passing game (263.2 YPG) and 6th-best rushing attack (146.4 YPG), even with David Montgomery sidelined for several games.

It was only a matter of time before this news broke. Johnson garnered coaching interviews last year but opted to remain in Detroit in pursuit of helping bring a Super Bowl to Detroit. Instead of accomplishing this goal, Ben Johnson’s tenure ended with the 1-seed falling in a 45-31 home defeat to the Washington Commanders.

Johnson now decides to take the opportunity with the Chicago Bears. With being able to choose between several jobs where he would take his first head coaching opportunity, Johnson is likely attracted to the potential of Caleb Williams, who will enter his second year in the NFL next year.

Johnson now looks to build his coaching staff with former Saints head coach Dennis Allen being rumored to be the Chicago Bears next defensive coordinator. An offense with Ben Johnson and a defense with Dennis Allen would certainly make teams respect playing the Bears on any given Sunday from a strategy standpoint.

Coaches like Ben Johnson are the trendiest hires in the NFL now. Johnson is only 38 years old and once upon a time, young coaches were looked down upon because of their lack of experience. Sean McVay changed a lot of preconceived notions, helping bring a Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams and the Bears hope Ben Johnson has the same success.

It is interesting to see Ben Johnson choose to be in the NFC North when the division put up historic numbers, aside from the Bears. The Lions, Packers, and Vikings all made the playoffs and Ben Johnson will not be entering an easy situation, but one he thinks can be doable.

We have seen coaches have success leaving for a head coaching job inside their division. Dan Quinn left the Dallas Cowboys last year to become the Washington Commanders head coach and now has them in the NFC Championship Game against Philadelphia. Once a laughing stock in the NFL, Quinn has turned that culture around in one year with a former Heisman winner in Jayden Daniels. Ben Johnson will aim to do the same at a division rival with a former Heisman winner in Caleb Williams.

How do you think this hire goes? How long will Ben Johnson have in Chicago and will he be successful with the Bears organization?