The Chicago Bears have made their decision. It won't be former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, despite the Bears' interest.
Chicago is reportedly hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to become their next head coach. Johnson had drawn interest from several teams after leading a dominant Lions offense. He is now tasked with helping first-overall pick Caleb Williams develop after a disappointing rookie campaign.
The good news is that Johnson is no longer in Detroit, leaving Lions head coach Dan Campbell with a huge void to fill. While they still have incredible talent on offense, losing Johnson's scheme and play-calling is significant.
Unfortunately for the Packers, Johnson still resides in the NFC North and is bringing an impressive coaching staff with him.
Ben Johnson is building the coaching staff to turn the Bears' fortunes around
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Johnson plans to hire Dennis Allen as his defensive coordinator and is interested in bringing in Darren Rizzi as his special teams coordinator.
Both would be smart hires. Johnson brings a deep offensive playbook to Chicago but lacks experience in his new role. Allen has almost six years of head coaching experience in the NFL and has worked as a defensive coordinator for eight seasons.
RELATED: Packers land dream Christian Watson replacement in 3-round 2025 NFL mock draft
Rizzi is a highly experienced special teams coach and also spent time as the New Orleans Saints' interim head coach this season. He is currently a head coach candidate for multiple teams in this hiring cycle. Johnson is potentially bringing a talented and experienced staff with him to Chicago.
It won't happen overnight, but Johnson could be a home-run hire for the Bears.
His Lions offense was close to unstoppable in 2024, ranking No. 2 in the NFL for total yards and No. 1 with an incredible 33.2 points per game. They averaged the league's most points per game since the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 (35.3).
When they face the Bears, the Packers can expect to see plenty of creative play designs, including regular use of hook-and-ladder plays.
Chicago needed to bring in an offensive mind to work closely with Williams, who threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions in a rocky rookie year.
It will take some work. Johnson needs the Bears to invest heavily in an offensive line that saw Williams get sacked a league-high 68 times. Part of the blame falls on Williams, who can hold the ball for too long in an attempt to extend the play. Johnson goes from the league's best offensive line to one of the worst. That's a problem the Bears must fix.
From a long-term perspective, it could be bad news for the Packers. Johnson has one of the most creative schemes in the league and can stress defenses in multiple ways. He has the talent to get the best out of Williams.
The Lions are still one of the most talented teams in the NFC, even without Johnson. The Minnesota Vikings will remain tough to beat in 2025.
Maybe it takes time for Johnson to turn the Bears into playoff contenders. Perhaps it never happens. But the Bears likely got this one right. Johnson can unlock Williams' potential and help the Bears finally compete.
The Packers' competition in the NFC North may have become even tougher.