My guess, like all of these seismic moments in the 2025 NFL offseason, is that those inside Halas Hall are probably the least surprised that Ben Johnson ended up selecting the Chicago Bears as his ultimate destination.
Despite Johnson being the preferred choice in at least one and possibly two other locales, he chose a solid roster, the quarterback with the highest upside, arguably the best offensive line and a division that he is intimately familiar with. For the Bears, this should be considered an absolute win with no qualifications. Regardless of how Johnson turns out, he has been the league’s best and most entertaining offensive coordinator in each of the past three seasons. He was heavily desired by the Carolina Panthers after the 2022 season, by the Washington Commanders after the ’23 season and by the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars after the ’24 season, a buildup we have not seen in the coach hiring business since Adam Gase or Josh McDaniels Part II. He has made a brand name out of football that is legitimately entertaining for both the passerby enjoying the absurdity of a flea-flicker or a fake stumble, and for those who feel the hair stand up on the back of their necks for a unique take on blocking an outside run.
