Former Packers boss makes opinion clear on Chicago Bears' move to name Ben Johnson head coach
On Monday, it was announced that the Chicago Bears won the Ben Johnson sweepstakes. Johnson, the Detroit Lions' former offensive coordinator from 2022-2024, became the next head coach of the Chicago Bears, with the news becoming official the same day.
Johnson was widely viewed as the top head coaching candidate this off-season and had interest from many of the five teams who still need a head coach. He has been credited for elevating Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions' offense over the last few years.
Reacting to the Bears naming Johnson as their next coach, former Green Bay Packers vice president Andrew Brandt spoke on the situation. He said that all three of the other NFC North teams (Lions, Vikings, Packers) are at a big disadvantage.
"When I was in the NFC North, we looked around and when other teams made moves or non-moves, kept the people, that we thought, in our opinions, were not the best coaches or GMs, we smiled. That was a competitive advantage for us.
"We were hoping, in some situations, these teams would keep the people they had. Or when they hired new people, we didn’t think much of it. In this case, the Lions, the Vikings and Packers, not so much. As it appears right now, I think the Bears made a bold move that will elevate them.”
It certainly will benefit the Chicago Bears that Johnson has a ton of experience in the NFC North and a ton of knowledge about the Lions. He will get to coach against his former team twice a year, being in the NFC North.
Andrew Brandt suggests reason why Ben Johnson chose the Chicago Bears over the Las Vegas Raiders
As mentioned above, Ben Johnson was widely viewed as the hottest head coaching candidate this off-season. Many believed it was a contest between the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars as to who would land him as their next coach.
In recent days, Johnson to the Raiders talk was heating up, partly thanks to Tom Brady's involvement as a minority owner.
Andrew Brandt suggested that the Raiders not having a franchise quarterback and the Bears having Caleb Williams could have swayed Johnson into coming to Chicago.
"May be as simple as Johnson liking Caleb Williams more than any QB Vegas could draft," Brandt said on X.
The Raiders, Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets all have head coach openings yet to be filled. Only the Chicago Bears (Ben Johnson) and the New England Patriots (Mike Vrabel) have hired head coaches this off-season so far.