Ben Johnson: Chicago Bears verify Detroit Lions offensive coordinator as new head coach

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been introduced as the brand new Chicago Bears head coach.

Johnson was considered one of a minimum of 17 candidates for the function and can take over a Bears staff that completed backside of the NFC North this season, regardless of successful 4 of their first six video games.

Chicago (5-12) misplaced 10 straight after their promising begin, together with a 23-20 defeat at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day that led to the firing of coach Matt Eberflus on November 29 and noticed Thomas Brown develop into interim coach for the rest of the season.

Johnson spent three seasons as Detroit’s offensive coordinator below Dan Campbell and helped flip Jared Goff into one of many NFL’s finest quarterbacks, with the 38-year-old extensively thought of the highest head-coaching candidate available on the market.

“The Chicago Bears are a world-class franchise with an outstanding historical past and unimaginable fanbase,” Johnson stated. “Having been on the opposing sideline, I can attest to how passionate Bears followers are about this metropolis and their staff, and I’m honoured to be their head coach.

“My household and I are extremely blessed and lucky to take this subsequent step in our journey, and I can not wait to steer our gamers, our help workers and group, whereas doing so on the service of Bears followers. We’re wanting ahead to completely ingraining ourselves within the nice metropolis of Chicago, as we work to create an influence on this particular neighborhood.

“I’m excited to accomplice with Ryan [Poles, Chicago Bears general manager] and all the group as we work to create a championship-caliber program. We’re able to get to work.”

Johnson set for Bears problem

The Bears confirmed interviewing 17 candidates earlier than appointing Johnson. That record included former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, former Inexperienced Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who obtained the job as head coach of the New England Patriots.

“A confirmed chief with successful pedigree and a thoughts towards innovation, we’re excited to welcome Ben and his household to Chicago as our head coach,” Bears basic supervisor Ryan Poles stated. “All through our search course of, I used to be completely impressed by Ben’s character, intelligence, management and talent to attach.

“A progressive offensive thoughts, Ben’s plan for all three phases of our staff, which is centered on making a successful and aggressive surroundings, turned evidently clear. Assembly with Ben and gaining an understanding of his course of and imaginative and prescient, the extra assured we turned that Ben is the appropriate chief for our staff.

“It’s plain how passionate Ben is for serving within the function of head coach of the Chicago Bears, and we’re primed, geared up and excited to welcome him and his household to Chicago and to begin our technique of constructing a championship-calibre staff, collectively. That is just the start.”

Chicago has simply three playoff appearances for the reason that 2006 staff gained the NFC, whereas their lone Tremendous Bowl title got here through the 1985 season. The Bears haven’t gained a postseason sport for the reason that 2010 staff superior to the convention title sport below Lovie Smith.

The Bears got here into this season in search of a playoff spot after making some high-profile strikes within the offseason, highlighted by Williams’ arrival and a blockbuster commerce with the Los Angeles Chargers for six-time Professional Bowl receiver Keenan Allen.

Their season went off the rails after a 4-2 begin, main them to fireplace a head coach throughout a season for the primary time after they eliminated Eberflus following a sequence of poor late-game selections. In addition they fired an offensive coordinator for the second time in lower than a yr, with Shane Waldron lasting simply 9 video games after changing Luke Getsy.

Brown, who started the season as passing sport coordinator, took over for Waldron after which turned interim coach a number of weeks later. His solely win as head coach got here in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the ultimate match of the common season.

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