Ben Johnson Sweepstakes Adds Spice to Lions’ Playoff Game
The Unlikely Hero of the Bears’ Coaching Search
Ben Johnson, the coordinator of the Lions’ top-ranked scoring offense, is the favored candidate in the Bears’ coaching search. However, the deeper the Lions go into the playoffs, the more complicated his candidacy becomes. If the Lions lose, the Bears can have an in-person second interview with Johnson on Monday. If the Lions win, they’d have to wait until January 27.
A Complicated Coaching Search
The Bears are also courting Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy among other popular candidates who could have other options. The search could turn into a chess game and a poker game all in one – where balancing aggressiveness and patience can be tricky. The Bears have interviewed 12 candidates, including former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, former Panthers and Commanders coach Ron Rivera, and Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Johnson’s Candidacy
If the Lions win and delay Johnson’s interview availability, do the Bears pounce on McCarthy and hire a proven coach with a Super Bowl ring and a history of good quarterback development? Do they wait on Johnson, who could be the next Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay, and risk coming in second and having to go to Plan B – or even Plan C? Do they aggressively pursue Johnson with back-channel negotiations and all but finalize a deal prior to the second interview – as the 49ers did with Shanahan during the Falcons’ run to the Super Bowl in 2017?
Awaiting the Outcome
Bears fans are likely rooting for a Lions loss to the Commanders – preferably one where Johnson’s offense is not the culprit. However, that also would put the Commanders with coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels in the NFC Championship Game – a year after the Commanders were 4-13 and well behind the Bears in pursuit of relevance.
A Star Quarterback
Jayden Daniels is compiling evidence beyond his stats that he could be tough to top if he stays healthy – with a knack for rising to the occasion. He out-dueled Joe Burrow in his third NFL game, threw the Hail Mary pass that beat the Bears, threw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to beat the Eagles, and converted two clutch third-down plays in the final minute to upset the Buccaneers in the wild-card game last week.
Conclusion
The Bears’ coaching search is a complex and intriguing process, with multiple factors at play. The outcome of the Lions-Commanders game will have a significant impact on the search, and Bears fans will be eagerly awaiting the results.
FAQs
* What is the status of Ben Johnson’s candidacy in the Bears’ coaching search?
+ Johnson is the favored candidate, but his candidacy is complicated by the Lions’ playoff run.
* Who else is in the running for the Bears’ coaching job?
+ The Bears have interviewed 12 candidates, including Mike McCarthy, Pete Carroll, and others.
* What are the implications of a Lions loss for the Bears’ coaching search?
+ A Lions loss would allow the Bears to interview Johnson in person on Monday, while a win would delay the interview until January 27.
* Who is Jayden Daniels, and what makes him a promising quarterback?
+ Daniels is the quarterback of the Commanders, and has shown a knack for rising to the occasion in big games.
