The Green Bay Packers won’t see Mike McCarthy again in the NFC North, but a familiar foe remains inside the division and is headed to Chicago. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears are finalizing the hiring of Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the team’s new head coach.
McCarthy, the former Packers coach, interviewed with the Bears and was considered one of the favorites for the job. But Chicago is opting for Johnson, who has been one of the NFL’s hottest coaching candidates over the past few seasons and is now ready to leave Detroit after a disappointing playoff exit.
The Lions lost as a No. 1 seed in the NFC divisional round, giving Johnson the freedom to accept any head coaching job offer. He chose to remain in the NFC North, meaning the Packers will continue to play him twice per season.
Under Johnson, the Lions ranked in the top 10 in offensive scoring in each of the last three seasons and finished first in 2024. Detroit was 5-1 in games against the Packers with Johnson as offensive coordinator.
The question now becomes: Can Johnson — one of the NFL’s best playmakers — and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams come together to turn the Bears around?
Chicago finished 5-12 last season. The Bears started 4-2 but lost 10 straight games and coach Matt Eberflus was fired at 4-8. Interim coach Thomas Brown went 1-4 to finish. The Bears have only made the playoffs twice (2018, 2020) and haven’t had a playoff victory since the Packers won the NFC Championship Game in Chicago during the 2010 season.
However, the Bears beat the Packers in the 2024 season finale – ending the 10-game losing streak overall and the 11-game losing streak in the rivalry – and have now landed the top coaching candidate in this cycle.