BREAKING: Bears hiring Ben Johnson as head coach

It’s happening. The search is over.

The Chicago Bears are hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the team’s next permanent head coach.

The offensive guru becomes the charter franchise’s 19th head coach since the organization’s inception in 1920.

Johnson’s season with the Lions ended abruptly following an upset against the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional round on Saturday, which allowed Johnson to interview again and be hired as early as Monday.

Following Detroit’s loss, the search accelerated. On Sunday, Chicago hosted Tennessee State head coach and former NFL running back Eddie George at Halas Hall, satisfying the league’s Rooney Rule.

On Monday, Johnson’s first day eligible to be hired, the Bears acted quickly.

This is a massive win for Chicago, who not only reels in the top offensive mind on the coaching market with this hire but also plucks him from a division rival. It also signals Johnson’s interest in working with Caleb Williams, who isn’t even a year removed from being selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft by the Bears.

This past season, Johnson’s offense, led by Jared Goff, finished first in touchdowns (70) and second in the league in yards per game (409.5). Chicago’s offense, under the direction of Shane Waldron for nine games and Thomas Brown for the final eight, finished last in yards per game (283.5).

Johnson is expected to hire former Raiders and Saints head coach Dennis Allen as Chicago’s next defensive coordinator.

As Johnson becomes a head coach for the first time in his coaching career, he’ll still have to prove his ability to lead a locker room and manage the clock and game. But the Bears’ extensive search, which yielded 20 candidates and 17 confirmed interviews, resulted in the hire many in Chicago hoped for all along.

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