Ben Johnson was recently named the head coach of the Chicago Bears, with the team and its fans hoping he can lead them to the championship in the upcoming NFL season.
Johnson previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions and was also pursued by other teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars parted ways with head coach Doug Pederson after a disappointing season and were reportedly eager to hire Ben Johnson as his replacement.
While Johnson hasn’t disclosed much about why he turned down the Jaguars, several NFL insiders have weighed in.
Will Brinson of CBS Sports points to Jacksonville’s general manager, Trent Baalke, as the main reason for Johnson’s decision.
“The Lions’ most explosive offensive performance was against Jacksonville, when Johnson’s unit scored 50 points on their struggling defense.
It should have been obvious then that Shad Khan needed to secure Johnson at all costs. But it seems the reason he’s in Chicago and not Jacksonville is Baalke,” Brinson said.
Meanwhile, Dianna Russini from The Athletic offered a different perspective on Johnson’s choice to reject Jacksonville.
According to Russini, the team’s overall structure wasn’t ideal for Johnson, who is aiming to succeed in his first head coaching role.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will soon get what he wished for in a new head coach.
On a recent podcast with Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown, Williams shared his desire to work with an offensive-minded leader.
Shortly afterward, the Bears announced the hiring of Ben Johnson, who fits that description perfectly.
Knowing this was what Caleb Williams wanted, it wasn’t surprising to see the quarterback “like” the announcement on Instagram.
Last season, Williams recorded 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions, and he’s likely excited about what Johnson can bring to the team.
Although Williams displayed considerable promise for the team, his performance fell short, and the Chicago Bears ended up last in the NFC North with a 5-12 record.
The Bears were ranked three spots lower than the dominant Detroit Lions, who finished the season 15-2.
