Getty Picture / Daniel Bartel
Daniel Bartel- Imagn Photographs
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was the most well liked title on the NFL head coach cycle this 12 months, and was anticipated to have his choose of the out there jobs. On Monday, he accepted the supply from the Chicago Bears to be the crew’s subsequent head coach.
The Bears knew they needed to outbid another groups for his companies. Outbid them they did, as Ben Johnson obtained a fats contract that can make him higher-paid than 2024’s finest free agent signing.
Johnson, 38, has been a star because the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions over the previous three years, and has turned them into the very best unit of soccer. The Lions had been probably the most artistic offense within the league below Ben Johnson, whereas additionally being improbable on the little issues, too. Whether or not it was by means of the air or on the bottom, they moved the ball successfully.
Now, he’s heading to a franchise that has by no means had a 4,000-yard passer, and has been offensively challenged for many years. He’s obtained items in Chicago, together with a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams, and on paper it looks as if it’s an ideal match.
As I mentioned, they needed to outbid some groups, and the paid a fairly penny for Ben Johnson. Right here’s Professional Soccer Discuss with extra.
We set the over/below at $14.5 million per 12 months. Which may have been excessive. However not by a lot.
The early determine on the NFL grapevine for the Ben Johnson contract in Chicago is $13 million per 12 months.
If true (and one supply characterised the determine as “hypothesis”), it’s a big bump over the present entry-level variety of roughly $8 million yearly. However that’s the type of determine that will get the eye of a man with decisions.
$13 million a 12 months for a first-time head coach is an unprecedented sum. And, if you concentrate on it, it’s barely more cash per 12 months than Saquon Barkley is receiving in his 3-year, $37 million cope with the Eagles. Contemplating that Barkley could have been the NFL’s finest participant this 12 months, that’s an enormous contract for a coach.
Now, Johnson has to make that deal value it by profitable in Chicago.
