The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson have never been official, but some serious professional flirtation has defined the relationship stretching back to before last season.
Chicago was considering moving on from former head coach Matt Eberflus for a time leading up to Week 1, though never made that move. However, while Eberflus’s future with the franchise was in question, Johnson was among the top names to replace him and expressed interest in the opportunity.
Johnson initially planned to accept as few as two head coaching interviews, with only the Bears and New England Patriots as guaranteed teams of interest to the sought-after offensive/QB guru. And after the Pats hired their former linebacker and ex-Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to lead the sideline just days ago, Chicago and Johnson seemed almost destined for one another.
Brady, who joined on with that franchise as a minority owner last year, coaxed Johnson into accepting an interview with the team despite his former hesitancy. Johnson also spoke with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Meanwhile, the Bears have interviewed around a dozen candidates for their opening, adding the likes of Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman to their wishlist and completing an interview with former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy Wednesday.
In short, the Raiders have made Johnson their top priority, while the Bears are making him work arguably too hard for it with no promise of a deal. As such, predictions have begun to come down from NFL insiders that put Johnson in the desert next season and someone else in the Windy City.
