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Bears Receive Good News After Bad Loss to Lions

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated Dec 22, 2024 7:17 PM ET

There is not much cause for Chicago Bears players or fans to rejoice after a 17-point home loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Dec. 22, which dropped the team to 4-11 and extended the current losing streak to nine games.

However, Chicago got good news both before and after the contest with regards to their upcoming head coaching search -- namely that the person believed to be their top candidate has serious interest in taking over the position.

The man in question is Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported early on Sunday that Johnson is "intrigued" by the opportunity.

"There's a lot to like in Chicago with [QB] Caleb Williams, tons of cap space [and] extra draft resources," Pelissero said.

Just hours after that report, Johnson thoroughly dismantled the Bears defense and did so in a showman's fashion, which had some analysts speculating that his play calling was another message to the Bears front office indicating his interest in becoming the team's next head coach.

"Ben Johnson went extra deep into the playbook today. Some stuff we've never seen," Peter Schrager of Fox Sports posted to X. "Coincidence? Or a bit of showmanship in front of Bears brass with the owner, President, GM and thousands of fans all watching in Soldier Field? Either way, hard for Bears to ignore."

It is difficult to call getting outclassed on the field and from the sideline "good news" under any circumstances, though perhaps the one exception to that rule is when the minds behind a drubbing are trying to tell you that they want/are ready for a bigger and better job than the one they currently have -- and that they want said opportunity with your organization.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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