The Chicago Bears are continuing to focus on the Detroit Lions coaching staff in their search for a new head coach. After parting ways with Matt Eberflus on November 29th, the Bears’ top priority this offseason is filling that vacancy. The team has already interviewed Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson and former Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel, and just recently concluded another interview with Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn, as reported by 670 The Score.
Aaron Glenn
a former NFL cornerback and three-time Pro Bowler, was interviewed via Zoom for the Bears’ head coaching position. While Glenn’s defensive unit in Detroit has been fairly average, the Lions have excelled in one area: rushing defense. They rank 5th in the league, allowing just 98.4 yards per game. However, the rest of the defense has been underwhelming, with Detroit ranking 20th in total defense (342.4 yards allowed), 30th in passing defense (244 yards), and 7th in scoring defense (allowing 20.1 points per game). Despite his experience, Glenn hasn’t been able to transform the Lions defense into anything extraordinary, and considering the Bears’ own struggles on both offense and defense last season, it’s uncertain if Glenn is the right choice to lead the team.
According to Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren, General Manager Ryan Poles will be the “point man” in the search for the team’s next head coach. Poles and the Bears have wasted no time, kicking off the search immediately after Eberflus’ firing and making sure to conduct a thorough evaluation. Poles shared some of the key qualities the Bears are seeking in a new head coach: “We’re looking for clear vision, a developmental mindset, really good game management and obviously a plan to develop a quarterback is going to be a key part of that as well.”
So far, Glenn joins a growing list of potential candidates that the Bears are considering, including former Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll, former Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel, and New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka, among others.
The Bears’ primary need is clear
They require an offensive-minded, quarterback-centric coach who can help unlock the potential of Caleb Williams, the star quarterback the team is hoping to select in this year’s draft. Additionally, the Bears need someone capable of designing schemes to maximize the talents of their offensive weapons, such as Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore. In this regard, Ben Johnson would be an ideal fit. Johnson has played a key role in the Detroit Lions’ offensive success, helping them become one of the league’s top offenses and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
However, there is a twist. NFL insider Peter Schrager recently reported that the Las Vegas Raiders are also showing strong interest in hiring Ben Johnson as their head coach. According to Schrager, the potential move has gained traction in league circles over the past 48 hours. Despite the Raiders’ current dysfunction and lack of a franchise quarterback—issues they’ll need to address through the draft—there’s hope that Johnson may be deterred from taking the job and instead be lured to Chicago, where the Bears’ position and future may offer more stability.
As it stands, both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are in limbo, unable to make any decisions until the conclusion of the NFL season. Fans are hoping that, when all is said and done, the Chicago Bears will announce Ben Johnson as their next head coach, ushering in a new era of offensive growth and leadership for the franchise.
