Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

‘A lot of things lining up’ for Ben Johnson and AFC team

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Jan 13, 2025 10:10 PM ET

On Monday, the Chicago Bears continued to add to their exhaustive list of candidates. Chicago will meet with former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. The team requested to interview Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich.

The Bears might need to add to their list because the coaching search appears to be getting away from them quickly. Mike Vrabel, considered one of the Bears top options, agreed to join the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Vrabel being off the board was a relief to some Bears fans, as that meant Chicago could focus their attention on Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. But Johnson reportedly doesn’t have the Bears as his No. 1 team following his virtual interviews last week.

Things are pointing to Ben Johnson and the Las Vegas Raiders

Per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, things are “pointing” to Johnson becoming the next head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

A lot of things lining up and pointing to Ben Johnson to the @Raiders.

Nothing surprises me in this league, though.

Some really good coaches have a chance to change things when they interview.

But…

— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) January 14, 2025

Unlike the Chicago Bears, the Raiders cleaned house for Johnson

Per Bonsignore, part of the appeal to the Raiders for Johnson is the open GM position. (Unlike the Bears with Ryan Poles, the Raiders chose to fire Tom Telesco in a bid to be aggressive in the head coaching market.)

“But Johnson, 38, still accepted the club’s interview request because of (Tom) Brady’s allure and the chance to have a say in the general manager hire,” Bonsignore wrote. “What about the GM opening? The Raiders plan to be flexible when it comes to their general manager job. They’re willing to consider a package deal if their top coaching candidates have preferred front office leaders in mind.”

The Raiders have a worse quarterback situation than Chicago and questions all over their roster. Las Vegas is not set up for immediate success in 2025.

The Bears should be a more appetizing job than the Raiders. But Chicago appears to be fumbling the bag by how they run their operations.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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