Ben Johnson Turned Down AFC Team Before Agreeing To Coach Bears
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The Chicago Bears may be the biggest winners of the NFL's early offseason. Chicago has hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, arguably the most sought-after head coaching candidate in the league.
Johnson will work closely with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, and the team is hoping that they can develop a rapport similar to the one Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels seems to have with Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury.
Johnson was a candidate for several jobs around the NFL, and a new report suggests that he turned down one opportunity with an AFC team before agreeing to coach the Bears.
According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Johnson wasn't enamored with the "setup" in Jacksonville with the Jaguars for his first head coaching job.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were also interested in Ben Johnson but I'm told the setup wasn't in line with what he was looking for in his first head coaching job.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 20, 2025
Johnson has had two years to see the NFL's landscape play out since becoming a head coaching candidate after the 2023 season.
After seeing the Jaguars' 2024 season and how the organization has responded to it, it appears that he wasn't thrilled with the idea of working with general manager Trent Baalke.
Baalke has been in Jacksonville since 2020, and he's been the general manager since 2021. In that period, Jacksonville is 25-43 with one playoff appearance and a division title.
Many have argued that the Jaguars haven't gotten the most out of top pick Trevor Lawrence, but opinion seems to be split on whether that's an organizational issue or simply an issue with Lawrence's play. He'll have the chance to redeem himself after a disappointing year, and so will Baalke and the rest of the front office.
The Jaguars may not need a franchise quarterback, but they still need a new head coach. Candidates for the opening include Robert Saleh, Liam Coen and Patrick Graham, all of whom will interview with the team this week.
Jacksonville has the No. 5 pick in this year's draft. They could use the pick to address any of their team needs like the offensive line or the secondary, or they could trade down with other quarterback-needy teams to acquire more draft capital.
The search for a new head coach will continue in Jacksonville, as the Jaguars continue the interview process. As for Johnson, we'll see what he can accomplish next year in Chicago with the Bears.
Related: Ben Johnson's Rumored Salary With Bears Has Fans Stunned
