Ben Johnson

Just hours after it was reported that Johnson would be finalizing his interview schedule, Johnson appears headed for the Windy City. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report it, as any rumors of Johnson being the next coach of the Raiders can be laid to rest just days after he was being hyped as the favorite to land in Vegas. Johnson will now be tasked with helping Caleb Williams and the Bears take the next step after a tumultuous 2024 that featured multiple offensive coordinators and head coaches for the No. 1 overall pick of last year’s draft. During his three years in Detroit, Johnson’s offense consistently finished in the top five in yards and points per game and led the league with 33.2 points per game this season. Known for his elaborate schemes and ability to create room for his receivers to operate, Johnson is the exact kind of coach many believed Williams would need to reach his full potential as a pro after entering the league as one of the highest touted prospects of the last decade. Johnson will now take the upcoming days to round out his staff as he prepares to embark on his much-anticipated first season as a head coach.

As Russini points out, the Raiders, Bears, and Jaguars have all shown “strong interest” in Johnson, whose offense came up short in an upset loss to the Commanders in the Divisional Round. Johnson is expected to take his time when it comes to deciding if and where he would serve as a head coach and is not a lock to meet with all teams interested in his services. In three seasons as Lions’ OC, Johnson’s offense has ranked in the top five in both yards and points per game. Considered to be one of the top offensive minds in the game, there will be high hopes for whatever team he lands with, which could also prove to have several viable fantasy assets for the 2025 season and beyond.

A source indicates Johnson is “still very early in the process of making a decision about next year.” The sought-after head coach candidate reportedly had people gathering information on his behalf while he focused on the Lions’ now-dashed Super Bowl dreams. The Raiders recently interviewed Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark, who is said to have a close relationship with Johnson, but per the source, Newmark’s interview “doesn’t mean a lot right now.” Johnson’s search is still in “phase one” but things could pick up quickly now that the Lions’ season is over. “Johnson can engage in face-to-face interviews as soon as” Monday.

The Jaguars have interviewed eight head coach candidates thus far and the two Lions coordinators appear to hold the top two spots on the ownership’s wish list. While Glenn is considered a highly sought-after coach in his own right, it stands to reason that Johnson is the organization’s top choice.