Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, has agreed to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bears, a source familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday. The deal is still being finalized, but Johnson’s hiring marks his first head coaching position in the NFL.

A New Chapter for Ben Johnson

Johnson, 38, was widely regarded as the top candidate on the coaching market after his impressive three-year run with the Lions, where he worked under head coach Dan Campbell. Prior to joining Detroit in 2019, Johnson spent seven years as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins.

Johnson’s success with the Lions offense has been a key factor in the team’s rise. Under his guidance, quarterback Jared Goff threw for over 4,400 yards in each of the past three seasons, earning two Pro Bowl selections during that stretch. The Lions finished the regular season as NFC’s top seed, leading the league in points per game and ranking second in both passing yards and total yards.

A Focus on Caleb Williams

As head coach of the Bears, Johnson’s primary task will be to develop young quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams had an impressive rookie campaign, throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions, though he was sacked a record-breaking 68 times.

Williams has already expressed admiration for Johnson’s work with the Lions. “I think it’s been really cool to watch,” Williams said when reflecting on the Bears’ 2023 season. “During our game, I would sit back and try to learn something. It was fascinating to watch… He had wrinkles for counters and things like that throughout the game.”

Johnson, too, has been vocal about Williams’ talent. Before the Bears’ Week 16 matchup against the Lions, he praised Williams for his arm strength and ability to extend plays. “He’s got quite a fastball and has some creativity to him. He’s accurate down the field as well,” Johnson noted. “He’s been impressive from afar.”

Bears’ Struggles and Johnson’s Challenge

The Bears had a challenging season, finishing with a 5-12 record and firing head coach Matt Eberflus on November 29. Thomas Brown stepped in as interim coach, but the team still struggled, losing 10 consecutive games before closing the season with a win at Green Bay. The Bears’ performance has been disappointing under general manager Ryan Poles, who’s overseen a 15-36 record in three seasons, including two double-digit losing streaks.

Despite a strong start to the 2023 season, the Bears faltered. With high-profile offseason acquisitions, including Williams and a trade for six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen, expectations were high. However, after starting 4-2, the Bears fell apart. The firing of Eberflus marked the team’s first-ever midseason coaching change, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron also lost his job after just nine games.

Fans became increasingly frustrated, culminating in chants of “Sell the team!” during their final home game of the season against Seattle.

Bears’ Coaching Search and Future Prospects

The Bears conducted an extensive search for their new head coach, interviewing 17 candidates, including notable names like former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, ex-Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Johnson now becomes the sixth head coach for the Bears since 2010, following in the footsteps of Lovie Smith, Marc Trestman, John Fox, Matt Nagy, and Eberflus. The team has not won a postseason game since 2010, and their last Super Bowl appearance came in 2006.

As Johnson takes the helm, he will have the critical task of turning around a franchise with a rich history but recent struggles, focusing on the development of Williams and restoring hope for the Bears’ long-suffering fan base.

Source

The post Ben Johnson Named Chicago Bears Head Coach to Lead Caleb Williams’ Development appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

DETROIT — With 36 seconds left in the game and the Chicago Bears trailing the Detroit Lions by three points, the Bears had a chance to tie or win in their Thanksgiving Day matchup. However, questionable clock management ultimately sealed a 23-20 defeat and extended Chicago’s losing streak to six games.

Despite the outcome, head coach Matt Eberflus defended his late-game decisions, insisting the team handled the situation appropriately.

The Final Drive

The Bears began their final possession at the Detroit 1-yard line with 3:31 remaining, running 13 plays to reach the Lions’ 35-yard line. On second-and-20, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked for a six-yard loss with 32 seconds remaining as Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith broke through unblocked.

Instead of calling a timeout, the Bears let the clock run. Williams scrambled to line up the offense, but the next snap came with only six seconds left. His deep pass to rookie receiver Rome Odunze fell incomplete near the 5-yard line as time expired.

“I knew when we snapped the ball, the [clock] would run out,” Odunze said. “I was trying to make it to the end zone, but we didn’t get the coverage we hoped for.”

Eberflus’ Decision Under Scrutiny

After the game, Eberflus defended his strategy. “Our hope was to get the play off at 18 seconds, throw inbounds, get into field goal range, and then call a timeout,” Eberflus explained. “Once it gets under 12 seconds, your only option is to throw it to the end zone.”

Critics pointed out that 26 seconds passed between Williams’ sack and the final snap, with no timeout called during that span. Kicker Cairo Santos could have attempted a 58-yard field goal—three yards longer than his career best—but Eberflus said the team believed they were out of range.

“We rehearsed scenarios like this,” Santos said. “I was ready to kick, but I didn’t expect it to play out like that.”

Player Reactions

The chaotic final moments left several Bears players puzzled. Tight end Cole Kmet described the ending as baffling: “I turned around, and the game was over. We just needed to avoid the sack and manage the clock better.”

Wide receiver DJ Moore, who had eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, expressed frustration. “We keep coming back in these games and having chances to win,” Moore said. “And then we just blow it.”

A Pattern of Narrow Losses

Thursday’s defeat was the fourth game this season the Bears lost by three or fewer points, tied for the most such losses in the NFL. According to ESPN Research, the Bears are the first team since 1933 to endure a six-game losing streak without committing multiple turnovers in any game.

Despite their struggles, the Bears rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit, with Williams leading three second-half touchdown drives. The rookie quarterback also set a franchise record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie (15) during the game.

Still, Eberflus’ record in one-score games now stands at 5-19—the worst in NFL history for any coach with at least 20 such games.

Looking Ahead

Eberflus took responsibility for the overall execution but maintained confidence in his approach. “We were all on the same page,” he said. “We just need to execute better.”

As the Bears fall to 4-8, fans and analysts are questioning whether changes in strategy—or leadership—might be necessary to turn the season around.

Source

Watch Video

The post Bears’ Clock Mismanagement Costs Them Thanksgiving Win Against Lions appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.