As the head coach hiring cycle approaches, Ben Johnson is the big name most Chicago Bears fans are hoping for. The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator has put together three consecutive years of outstanding work, putting his team in position for a Super Bowl run. Rumors have persisted that he has an interest in the Bears job. If the interview process goes well, he could be the man tasked with turning around Caleb Williams and hopefully getting this team back to a winning identity.
Many have the pressing question: If this happens, what could Johnson’s staff end up looking like? He will need a credible defensive coordinator to complement his offensive expertise. Can he find a good offensive line coach? Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado has some of the best connections around the league. He was asked about Johnson’s staff plans if he were to get the job. Multiple names were mentioned for all three coordinator spots.
Ben Johnson certainly has some interesting connections.
Press Taylor has been the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville for the past three years. During that time, they’ve ranked 10th, 13th, and 26th. His background is mostly spent coaching quarterbacks, which makes his candidacy an easy sell as the Bears want to build around Williams. Hardegree is a QB specialist who worked with Johnson in Miami for three years. He holds the same job in Tennessee this year but has bounced around the league for much of the past decade—no doubt he’d be somebody Johnson can trust with communication.
Probably the most interesting of the three offensive coordinator names is Davidson. He has coached the offensive line since 1998 and won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. He spent three years in Carolina as an offensive coordinator and even produced a top-10 unit. He then shifted to Minnesota, where his offensive line paved the way for Adrian Peterson’s 2,097-yard season in 2012. Ben Johnson crossed paths with him briefly in 2019 when both were in Detroit.
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George Edwards also worked with him in Miami. Most Bears fans should remember him as the defensive coordinator for the Vikings from 2014 through 2019, when they ranked top-10 in points allowed for five straight years.
Last but not least, Rizzi is currently the interim head coach in New Orleans. He’s renowned as one of the best special teams coaches in the league, with his unit finishing in the top-5 in five of the last six seasons. He and Johnson were staff mates in Miami for several years.
