The Chicago Bears have been heavily linked to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for some time now. Johnson, who has overseen one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL in recent seasons, has quickly become one of the top head coaching candidates on the market. However, recent comments from Bears owner George McCaskey may have derailed the team’s chances of landing the highly sought-after coordinator.
McCaskey’s Comments Raise Concerns
In a recent interview, McCaskey was asked about the importance of alignment between the general manager (GM) and head coach during the hiring process. McCaskey’s response was notably dismissive: “I don’t believe that’s a key factor.” This comment stood in stark contrast to what many candidates, including Ben Johnson, prioritize when looking at potential job opportunities.
George McCaskey on whether alignment between the GM and head coach is important during the interview process:“I don’t believe that’s a key factor.”No words.
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 7, 2025
Ben Johnson’s Criteria for Job Opportunities
Back in December, it was reported that Ben Johnson has two key criteria when considering head coaching roles. The first is that he would want a team that creates clear alignment between the head coach and GM. The second is that he wants to work for an owner who is willing to honestly identify their team’s weaknesses and aggressively address them. These qualities are exactly what Johnson found in Detroit when he worked under head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes…