One of the hottest names in recent coaching cycle history, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, is finalizing a deal to become the 19th head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Johnson, 38, began his NFL coaching career in 2012 as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins. He climbed the Miami coaching ladder, eventually becoming their wide receivers coach in 2018. Johnson joined Detroit in 2019 where he started as a quality control coach before becoming their offensive coordinator in 2022.

Under Johnson’s tutelage, former number one overall pick Jared Goff led the Lions offensive to multiple top five finishes in total offense including the number one spot in 2024. Now he takes over a team led by another former number one overall pick in Caleb Williams.

The addition of Williams, along with wideouts Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, to an offense that already had a number one option in wide receiver D.J. Moore gave Bears fans hope that they’d escape the dismal performances they’d grown accustomed to. However, Williams didn’t develop as quickly as the team hoped. That, paired with multiple offensive coordinators and head coaches, along with below average offensive line play led the Bears to another disappointing season.

Now enter Johnson, a former walk on quarterback at North Carolina. Though his offense in Detroit featured star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and other stud pass catchers, the roots of the Detroit offense were heavily entrenched in its top tier offensive line, grit, and a two headed monster at running back.

While the open air stadium Bears offense played like a finesse dome team, the dome dwelling Lions were built like a blue collar three yards and a cloud of dust team that loves to punch you in the mouth. Given their struggles and lack of identity, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson carry that identity to the Windy City.

Johnson’s work with Goff, his offensive ingenuity, and the type of offense he ran in Detroit make this a home run hire for Chicago and will allow Williams to develop into the type of player the Bears thought they’d get when they took him at number one in last years draft.

With promising players on defense, weapons outside, and Williams at quarterback, a rebuilt offensive line could have the Bears trending upward quickly in an extremely competitive NFC North.