With head coach interviews now underway, Chicago Bears fans are holding their breath, hoping for the best. It’s hard to have faith in an organization with a history of missteps in hiring head coaches, and for many, this might feel like a breaking point. Fortunately, only one team appears to stand in the Bears way of hiring Ben Johnson.
Bears’ Hope for Ben Johnson Hinges on One Team’s Action
A Two-Team Race
After the Jacksonville Jaguars shockingly decided to retain GM Trent Baalke, the New England Patriots are the only team left, presumably, with the chance of hiring Ben Johnson. NFL Insider Albert Breer tweeted that he believes Johnson will only interview with the Bears and Patriots for the HC opening. That’s it. Both teams have top-ten picks, with franchise quarterbacks heading into their sophomore seasons. However, Bears fans shouldn’t feel worried based on what transpired last year.
Johnson had an opportunity to go to New England. With the Patriots holding the third overall pick, it was guaranteed Johnson would have the opportunity to coach one of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, or Drake Maye. Yet, he chose to stay in Detroit and wait for the “right opportunity” to open up.
That said, here’s how the Bears and Patriots stack up:
- Cap space: Bears $80 million < Patriots: $127 million
- Roster Strength: Bears > Patriots
- Ownership Stability: Bears < Patriots
- Draft Capital: Bears > Patriots
Given the relatively even playing field, it’s logical for Johnson to consider both opportunities. But there’s another reason why Bears fans should remain optimistic—the Patriots may have their sights set elsewhere.
Patriots’ Focus on Another Candidate
If anyone should be worried, it’s Patriots fans. As soon as the Las Vegas Raiders fired HC Antonio Pierce, sirens must have rang inside the Patriots building to hire their guy ASAP.
Here’s the situation. The Patriots interviewed two candidates for head coach: Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton. Leftwich hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2022, and Pep Hamilton might not even be in consideration for an offensive coordinator role, let alone a head coaching role. So why did the team interview these two coaches? The NFL’s Rooney Rule.
The rule requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. It appears the Patriots were checking a box so they could interview their main candidate, former Patriots linebacker and NFL head coach Mike Vrabel. It’s a ramp-up process because the Raiders also appear to have a heavy interest in hiring Vrabel.
Breer had this to say about the situation:
“I think it’s complete garbage. Like, what gives you the right to skip the process that the Raiders have to go through, that the Bears have to go through, the Jets have to go through? Teams that are competing for him. What gives you the right to jump the line? Just because you have a relationship with him? Well, the Raiders do too. The Raiders have Tom Brady and Richard Seymour there. So what gives you the right to jump in front of all these other teams?
Last Word on the Bears’ Quest for Ben Johnson
While the Patriots hiring process may lack morals, the Bears remain in a strong position. The hope is Ben Johnson meshes well with GM Ryan Poles during their interview and the two sides come to an agreement.
Plus if the Patriots move forward with Mike Vrabel, the Bears would become the clear frontrunner for Johnson. If all goes as planned, Chicago could finally secure arguably the top head coach candidate and turn the page toward a brighter future.
Main Image: Junfu Han – USA Today Sports
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