Bears GM Ryan Poles touts new head coach Ben Johnson's 'mind toward innovation'
Bears president Kevin Warren said the team's coaching hire could shift the course of the franchise for the next two decades, so there's a lot riding on Ben Johnson as he takes over.
The team announced Tuesday morning that Johnson, formerly the Lions offensive coordinator, officially signed to become their 18th head coach. The Bears agreed to terms with him Monday, winning a fierce competition for the top candidate on the market.
General manager Ryan Poles called Johnson "a proven leader with winning pedigree and a mind toward innovation."
Johnson also interviewed with the Patriots, Raiders and Jaguars, and the last two were thought to be targeting him.
The Bears plan to hold Johnson' introductory news conference Wednesday at Halas Hall.
“The Chicago Bears are a world-class franchise with a phenomenal history and incredible fanbase,” Johnson said in a statement. “I am thankful to George [McCaskey], Kevin [Warren], Ryan and the entire organization for presenting me and my family with this tremendous opportunity. Having been on the opposing sideline, I can attest to how passionate Bears fans are about this city and their team, and I am honored to be their head coach.
“My family and I are incredibly blessed and fortunate to take this next step in our journey, and I cannot wait to lead our players, our support staff and organization, while doing so at the service of Bears fans. We are looking forward to fully ingraining ourselves in the great city of Chicago, as we work to create an impact in this special community. I am excited to partner with Ryan and the entire organization as we work to create a championship-caliber program. We are ready to get to work.”
Johnson, 38, helped the Lions make a remarkable turnaround offensively and has been instrumental in their rebuild. The team was fifth in the NFL in scoring his first two seasons and led the league at 33.2 points per game this season.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff has had a 102.7 passer rating the last three seasons with Johnson as his offensive coordinator, compared to 91.5 before that. The Bears are hoping Johnson will develop quarterback Caleb Williams in a way that former coach Matt Eberflus and his staff couldn't.
Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and Eberflus were fired in November. Eberflus had a 14-32 record, which was third-worst in Bears history.