Could Lions' Ben Johnson reject Bears for this AFC club?

Throughout the NFL season, numerous reporters and analysts named Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the favorite to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bears, in part because Chicago has a promising young quarterback in 2024 rookie Caleb Williams. 

It appears Johnson may ultimately end up working with a different first-overall draft choice. 

For an article published on Thursday morning, ESPN NFL insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano revealed that "Johnson is intrigued by" possibly becoming the next head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars "but might want his own general manager in place" instead of current Jaguars GM Trent Baalke. The story added that Jacksonville, not Chicago, "continues to be the spot most people seem to have pegged for Johnson assuming he's good with the front office structure." 

Much was made throughout the 2024 season about how Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence noticeably regressed after he signed a five-year contract extension worth up to $275M this past June. According to Pro Football Reference, Lawrence ended the campaign ranked 17th in the NFL with a 59.2 adjusted QBR, 28th with an 85.2 passer rating, 21st with a 45.4% passing success rate and 37th with a 60.6% completion percentage.

Jacksonville shut Lawrence down in early December so he could undergo shoulder surgery.

"As for the desirability of the job," Graziano said about the Jaguars' opening, "I think there will be people who want to work with Lawrence and an owner who hasn't been scared to spend on players. Lawrence has flaws, but he's obviously someone you can win games with and, unlike a few of these other situations, the quarterback situation in Jacksonville is stable for years to come."

Meanwhile, a Bears team source recently told ESPN's Courtney Cronin that Chicago will attempt to show head-coach candidates during interviews "that this is a first-class organization." Numerous analysts previously ripped the Bears for essentially failing quarterback Justin Fields during his three-year tenure with the club, and the franchise's culture seemingly comes into question on a yearly basis. 

"Lawrence is only 25 years old, so it's not as if all the hay is in the barn on his development," Graziano added. "My guess is working with him will be appealing to top offensive-minded candidates."