Black Monday is a day that many staffers throughout the NFL dread yearly. The day during which we get a lot of the information relating to which coaches have been let go from their respective groups. It is a day that we should not neglect is an extremely human day. It is not simply head coaches who’re let go, however whole staffs. It means a whole upending for households throughout the league. I like to recollect these types of issues earlier than simply speaking in regards to the head coach hiring cycle. You are not simply making an attempt to make numbers work, you are additionally speaking about lives and livelihoods.
That being stated, there are a number of organizations which are actually in want of a head coach and may begin the method of interviewing teaching candidates (some are already underway).
A kind of groups is the Chicago Bears, who halted their 10-game dropping streak and 11-game dropping streak to the Packers all within the remaining week of the season on Sunday. In rookie quarterback Caleb Williams‘ first journey to Lambeau Discipline, he pulled off a feat that had grow to be so elusive for the franchise. After all, not single-handedly. An end-of-game area objective scenario was dealt with adequately and credit score there goes to interim head coach Thomas Brown, who secured his first win whereas accountable for the Bears. Basic supervisor Ryan Poles acknowledged that Brown will get a full, formal interview for the everlasting place because the Bears embark on discovering their nineteenth head coach.
Nonetheless, one other title that has been on the prime of most Bears followers’ want lists is somebody whose crew is not fairly completed taking part in soccer but: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. As a result of Detroit secured the highest seed together with the NFC North in a Week 18 thriller over the Minnesota Vikings, Johnson can have some further time on his palms with the first-round bye. Groups will be capable to interview him (together with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) just about beginning Wednesday and should full these interviews by January 13, in line with the NFL’s new hiring cycle guidelines.
The Bears have reportedly already expressed curiosity in interviewing Johnson, and why would not they? Johnson led the league’s top-scoring offense, with Detroit averaging almost 33 factors per sport within the common season.
Johnson’s offenses have grow to be the gold normal over the previous two seasons. He is diabolical in his playcalling and attracts up new wrinkles weekly. His gamers additionally simply appear to be having enjoyable taking part in for him. He asks them to do some wild stuff, like asking proper deal with Penei Sewell to throw a cross, or catch a cross, or run a faux reverse, or lead block, or play left deal with. The schemes Johnson dreamed up for “Sonic and Knuckles” a.okay.a. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, resulted in each gamers surpassing 1,000 scrimmage yards, even with Monty getting harm down the stretch. Gibbs went off for 4 touchdowns within the season finale. Johnson attracts inspiration from all over the place, together with damaged performs that ended up working. Within the Bears’ final sport in opposition to them, Johnson known as a faux fumble play the place Goff purposely stumbled, Gibbs hit the deck and gamers yelled out “fumble” whereas tight finish Sam LaPorta leaked out and caught a wide-open landing.
Johnson received it from Chicago’s 2023 sport in opposition to the Packers during which quarterback Jordan Love truly fumbled the soccer, nevertheless it froze the linebackers lengthy sufficient that Packers tight finish Luke Musgrave was capable of get huge open and Love delivered the rating anyway.
Issues like which are why Johnson would be the hottest head teaching candidate on this cycle, ought to he even select to go away (which remains to be an if). Chicago can be silly to not go after him.
Not solely does it make sense for the Bears, however Chicago are Johnson’s most suitable choice, too.
Johnson would take over the event of Williams, the crew’s 2024 first-overall choose. Williams, whereas taking probably the most sacks of any quarterback within the league, nonetheless managed a powerful season statistically. His 3,451 passing yards are the fifth-most of any Bears quarterback ever. His 20 touchdowns this season are probably the most since Mitch Trubisky had 24 in 2018 and the twelfth most of any quarterback in franchise historical past. Williams threw simply six interceptions.
Extra than simply in Bears historical past, Williams’ numbers stack up amongst rookie quarterback annals league-wide. In the course of the broadcast, a stat chart flashed on the display screen that confirmed Williams’ rating first in landing touchdown-to-interception ratio amongst 28 quarterbacks drafted first total since 1967. His completion proportion of 62.5% ranks fourth.
A child like that? Johnson can work with that. He is already gotten the perfect out of quarterback Jared Goff, who was despatched to Detroit as a comfort within the Rams’ commerce for Matthew Stafford. Goff was all however given up on and but, Goff ranked second in completion fee this season. His 4,629 passing yards did, too. His 0.25 EPA/dropback additionally ranked, you guessed it, second within the league, per Subsequent Gen Stats. Goff wasn’t simply facilitating the Lions’ high-powered offense, he was directing it. Lots of that has to do with the scheme Johnson has dreamed up and the instruments he is geared up Goff with. Goff has simply been a extra assured, environment friendly quarterback beneath Johnson. He reads defenses higher, and fares higher beneath strain. It was sufficient to signal him to an extension this previous offseason that may pay him as much as $212 million. When it comes to common contract worth, Goff is the sixth-highest-paid quarterback.
Think about if Johnson did that for Williams by his second contract.
Williams alone ought to entice Johnson, however the Bears are not the one crew with a promising younger quarterback beneath middle. The New England Patriots made the shock determination to fireplace Jerod Mayo after only one season on Sunday — not even ready till Black Monday to do it. The Patriots are additionally projected to have probably the most cap house within the league for 2025, at simply over $130 million, in line with Spotrac. In his final sport as head coach, Mayo coached the Patriots out of the primary total choose with the win, although New England will nonetheless be choosing within the prime 5. However you may argue that their roster wants greater than the Bears’ does.
Plus, Chicago is projected to have over $80 million in cap house this offseason themselves, which ranks sixth. They will even have eight draft picks, together with 4 within the prime 100.
The Bears have additionally locked in guys like huge receiver D.J. Moore and tight finish Cole Kmet to long-term offers. Rookie huge receiver Rome Odunze is beneath crew management till 2028, together with Williams. There’ll must be work completed alongside the offensive line. Realizing what we do about Johnson’s time in Detroit, there’ll must be working again reinforcements, too. Nevertheless it’s a very good group to work with.
Defensively, the Bears have some wants upfront but when everyone seems to be wholesome, the linebacker room and secondary are similar to what Detroit has had. If you happen to distinction that with what the Patriots want (offensive line, receivers, working backs, edge rushers, linebackers, defensive backs), I believe Chicago looks as if the trail of least resistance.
Johnson is already aware of the division, too. That issues for somebody who spends a lot time taking part in chess along with his opponents. Johnson throws out unimaginable appears to be like and trick performs each sport. He picks issues about his opponent to use and does it higher than nearly anybody. With minimal shakeups across the division, Johnson would have already got all that inbuilt data.
Johnson is smart for the Bears, however greater than that, the Bears make sense for Johnson. The one query now’s if Chicago’s brass is prepared to pony up for the most popular head teaching candidate available on the market — and wait to take action. Johnson will not come low cost and the Bears aren’t identified for his or her generosity.
Additionally they have a novel hierarchy throughout the group. Johnson wouldn’t solely report back to Poles however crew president Kevin Warren, as effectively, along with possession.
However from an on-field perspective, of the accessible jobs, Johnson and the Bears appear to be the perfect match.
Carmen Vitali is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. Carmen had earlier stops with The Draft Community and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She spent six seasons with the Bucs, together with 2020, which added the title of Tremendous Bowl Champion (and boat-parade participant) to her résumé. You’ll be able to observe Carmen on Twitter at @CarmieV.
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