The Chicago Bears have appointed Ben Johnson, the former offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, as their new head coach. Johnson, who had spent three seasons in Detroit, turned the Lions’ offense into one of the most explosive in the league.
At 38, Johnson remains in the NFC North and faces the challenge of reviving a Bears team that has endured four straight losing seasons and has not won a playoff game in 14 years.
Detroit’s loss of Johnson is a significant setback, as the former North Carolina quarterback has been regarded as one of the top offensive coordinators in recent seasons. Additionally, his move to a division rival is a blow to the Lions, a fact that running back David Montgomery expressed displeasure over.
After the Bears confirmed Johnson’s hiring on Tuesday, Montgomery humorously reacted on Instagram by posting a picture of himself staring blankly at an image of Johnson. The photo originally came from one of quarterback Jared Goff’s interviews in November, with Montgomery replacing Goff’s face with Johnson’s on his Instagram story.
Montgomery, who played for the Bears from 2019 to 2022, thrived in Johnson’s offense over the past two seasons. The 27-year-old recorded over 1,000 scrimmage yards and double-digit touchdowns in both 2023 and 2024, forming a formidable running back duo with Jahmyr Gibbs.
Replacing Johnson will be a tough challenge for Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who also faces the possibility of losing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. The former NFL defensive back is a strong candidate for head coaching positions with either the New York Jets or New Orleans Saints.
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Could Hendon Hooker Join Ben Johnson if Lions Coach Is Hired by AFC Team?
DETROIT – The Detroit Lions have been fortunate to retain offensive coordinator Ben Johnson over the past few years, especially considering he’s been one of the most sought-after head coach candidates in the NFL. However, that streak is expected to end in 2025, with Johnson likely to be hired as a head coach this offseason. His three potential destinations are the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Las Vegas Raiders.
While both the Jaguars and Bears already have their quarterback situation settled, the Raiders find themselves without a clear starter at the position. This has led some to speculate that the Raiders might look to trade for Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker if they bring Johnson on board.
Hondo Carpenter, an insider for the Raiders, raised this possibility on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast, saying:
“Ben Johnson is clearly the [Raiders’] No. 1 target. So what would you trade for a Hendon Hooker?” Carpenter continued, “He’s got a couple years’ experience in the Ben Johnson system, so he comes in… and competes, and you could still go draft a guy. You still have Aidan O’Connell there, so he instantly competes.”
This makes a lot of sense for Las Vegas, as adding Hooker could provide much-needed depth and competition at quarterback. Carpenter noted that, at the very least, Hooker would challenge O’Connell and any rookie the Raiders may select in the 2025 NFL Draft. Las Vegas also has Gardner Minshew under contract for 2025, though cutting him would come with minimal penalty.
Drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Hooker has yet to see significant action in regular-season play due to the presence of veteran quarterback Jared Goff. With Goff signed through 2028, Hooker’s path to a starting role in Detroit seems unlikely unless injury strikes. Given his limited opportunities with the Lions, Hooker could very well be open to a trade, especially with two years remaining on his rookie deal.
In a surprising turn, Johnson initially wasn’t planning to interview with the Raiders. However, after Las Vegas minority owner Tom Brady reached out to him through back channels, Johnson agreed to take the meeting. Since then, momentum has been building for Johnson to take over as head coach in Las Vegas, making it a very real possibility. If the Raiders do hire him, we could very well see them pursue a trade for Hooker as part of their quarterback solution.
