Given the Bears’ abundance of wage cap house, ability place expertise and the presence of gifted rookie-contract QB Caleb Williams, it’s simple to see why they consider their HC put up is probably the most fascinating amongst these which might be anticipated to be obtainable in 2025. Invoice Belichick, earlier than he made the shocking choice to affix the school ranks, reportedly shared that view.
The attractiveness of the job in a vacuum is one factor, however a November report steered that Johnson could keep away from the Bears resulting from perceived organizational dysfunction. Nevertheless, subsequent stories famous that Johnson may indeed consider the Chicago gig, and as we speak, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Community said that the 38-year-old offensive guru is “intrigued” by the place and is keen to take heed to the Bears’ pitch. As we had beforehand heard that Johnson will not be going to interview merely for the sake of interviewing, any summit he conducts with Bears brass would seemingly point out that he’s ready to simply accept the job if supplied.
Whereas the Bears have been mentioned to be prioritizing a “chief of males” sort of head coach over a candidate with a selected background, Johnson’s repute as an offensive mastermind will not be solely in line with the development in as we speak’s HC searches, however it will be particularly helpful to a staff trying to unlock the potential of a blue chip prospect like Williams.
And, regardless of turning down what was usually considered a equally interesting put up with the Commanders within the 2024 hiring interval, Johnson reiterated that he desires to take a staff’s prime job in some unspecified time in the future.
“I believe there’s a burning want in each man to seek out what he’s made out of and push the bounds and see if he’s acquired what it takes,” Johnson mentioned, through Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “And so yeah, there’s a fireplace there. Now, when that point is? I don’t know when that’ll be, however there’s definitely a fireplace there.”
When requested particularly about Williams, Johnson was complimentary however conceded that he had probably not studied the rookie’s tape.
“Hear, it’s been troublesome to sit down down and simply research each throw however loads of crossover tape over the course of the 12 months and there’s no query this man’s gifted,” Johnson mentioned. “I bear in mind standing on the sideline final sport and simply you’ll be able to hear the ball whistle by you. He’s acquired fairly a fastball and has some creativity to him, can prolong performs and is correct down the sphere as nicely. Like I mentioned, I haven’t actually dove in and might inform you way more past that, however he’s been spectacular from afar.”
Whether or not Johnson lastly decides to maneuver on from Detroit will probably be maybe the highest query in the case of the 2025 HC carousel. If he does, it appears the Bears will probably be firmly within the combine.
Apparently, Johnson – a UNC alum – was not contacted by the school to debate its head teaching emptiness, as Birkett notes in a separate piece. After all, that job went to Belichick, who will proceed his legendary profession because the Tar Heels’ skipper.
