The Chicago Bears have reportedly hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach.
This is, to be blunt, a big dang deal for the Windy City.
The red-hot Lions offensive play-caller was the biggest name available in this head coaching cycle, and he’ll now reportedly join a Bears team in desperate need of maximizing the potential of quarterback Caleb Williams.
A hire this seismic brings about some clear winners and losers in the process. Let’s break down who they are and why they fall on either side of this reported move.
Winner: Bears fans
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Congratulations to all Bears fans. You reportedly did it. You reportedly got your guy. Soak it in. Ben Johnson is reportedly yours!
Winner: Caleb Williams
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Nobody wins more than Williams, who reportedly gets the NFL’s most exciting play-caller as his next head coach. What those two can do together could be really special.
Loser: Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders
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Sorry, Raiders. The franchise will reportedly have to look elsewhere for a head coach. Brady’s involvement as a limited partner with the franchise apparently couldn’t seal the deal. The lack of a settled starter at quarterback also looms here.
Loser: the Detroit Lions
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This stinks for the Lions. The team reportedly losing Johnson to a division rival right after a playoff loss is about as bad as this could’ve gone.
Loser: All the other teams who might have wanted Ben Johnson
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Sorry, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. Johnson is reportedly off the market.
Winner: Ryan Poles
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Poles has to feel like a winner here. He reportedly now gets to work with Johnson to build up Chicago into a contender as opposed to being shuffled out of the Matt Eberflus regime.
Winner: Other NFL offensive coordinators trying to get a head coaching job
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Guys like Joe Brady, Liam Coen and Kellen Moore should have a clearer pathway to jobs in this cycle now with Johnson reportedly out of the picture.