It’s official: Ben Johnson is now a Chicago Bear.
The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator accepted the head coaching job with Detroit’s NFC North rival on Monday, two days after the Lions‘ 2024 season came to an end. His hiring became official on Tuesday, and he was in Lake Forest, Illinois, to be welcomed at Halas Hall, the Bears‘ training facility.
Shortly after the official hiring was announced by the Bears, the official team social media page posted a video of dozens of Bears employees waiting to greet Johnson and his family with an enthusiastic round of applause.
Jokingly, Johnson yelled, “everyone get back to work” to the members of his new team, before delivering an opening message where the overarching point was he landed the head coaching job he wanted. Johnson, who was the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2022-24, has been a hot commodity in head coaching searches the last two years, but opted to return to Detroit and wait for the right opportunity, which came this week on the opposite side of Lake Michigan.
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“Listen, thank you so much,” Johnson said. “My family and I, we are beyond excited. This is exactly where we wanted to be. It’s exactly where we wanted to be. This is going to be a challenge, I’m well aware of that. I know what this division’s about and this is exactly where we want to be.
“We’re going to go after this thing and it’s going to take all of us in this room. It’s going to take this locker room. It’s nothing more important than that locker room and us serving that locker room and those players. They need to understand that. They need to feel that from us every single day, and if we do that, the wins are going to come, the playoffs are going to come. Alright? Can’t wait to get to know you guys and thank you so much for the warm welcome.”
Johnson became one of the top coaching candidates in the last few years after helping lift the Lions’ offense to being one of the most potent in the league year after year. In 2024, the Lions led the NFL in scoring (33.2 points per game) after ranking in the top five the first two seasons under Johnson. Players like quarterback Jared Goff and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have credited him for his ability to develop and create detailed, creative game plans for specific opponents.
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The Lions will now face Johnson and the Bears twice a year as a part of the NFC North schedule. The Bears job became available after the franchise fired Matt Eberflus when he bungled the late-game clock management on Thanksgiving Day against Detroit as a final straw in an unsuccessful three-year campaign.
Shortly before Johnson got hired, head coach Dan Campbell said he expected to lose him and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who is interviewing for most of the head coach openings, to promotions. The Lions have some in-house options as replacements, but Campbell said he will look at all options to find the best for the Lions in 2025.
“I will forever be grateful for those guys and our team will, and is it a loss?” Campbell said Monday. “Absolutely, it would be a loss, but yet, man, we move forward, this train rolls on and I’ll find the next best guys for us.”
The Chicago Bears have officially signed Ben Johnson, and fans couldn’t be more thrilled. The talented tight end has agreed to a deal with the team, and Bears fans are already buzzing with excitement.
Johnson, known for his athleticism and playmaking ability, is expected to make a significant impact on the Bears’ offense. With his speed and agility, he will surely be a valuable asset for the team.
As news of Johnson’s signing spread, fans took to social media to express their excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. The roaring cheers from Bears fans could be heard from miles away as they welcomed Johnson to the team.
With Johnson on board, the Bears are looking stronger than ever. Fans can’t wait to see him in action on the field and are hopeful that he will help lead the team to success.
Welcome to Chicago, Ben Johnson! Bears fans are ready to cheer you on all the way to victory. #BearDown.
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