The Chicago Bears are closing in on a deal to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach, according to multiple reports on Monday.
Johnson will take over a Bears team that floundered to last-place finish in the NFC North this season after winning four of its first six games.
Chicago lost 10 straight after its promising start, including a 23-20 defeat at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day that led to the firing of coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29.
Johnson became available to hire after the top-seeded Lions’ surprising 45-31 home loss to the Washington Commanders in a divisional round game Saturday night.
The 38-year-old was one of the most coveted head coaching candidates this season.
His creative playcalling, which includes a deep bag of gadget plays, has helped Detroit sustain one of the league’s most potent offenses.
In each of Johnson’s three seasons as offensive coordinator, the Lions finished among the NFL’s top five in total yards and points per game.
Detroit boasted the league’s top scoring offense this season (33.2 ppg) and finished second in total yards per game (409.5). Their 564 points this season were a franchise record, as were their 15 regular-season wins.
Johnson will aim to improve a Bears offense that managed the fewest yards (284.6) and tied for the fourth-fewest points per game (18.2) last season with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the top overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
