The Bear’s Den, January 21, 2025

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS

Ben Johnson agrees to deal on important Bears anniversary – SI – Ben Johnson agreed Monday to terms with the Bears on a date when their only Super Bowl-winning coach signed.

If Bears want Ben Johnson’s players here’s who they might find – SI – A few Ben Johnson players in Detroit are unrestricted free agents after this season, including a key offensive lineman and a wide receiver.

Here’s when Ben Johnson will sign his contract to become the Chicago Bears head coach – SI – Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has accepted the Chicago Bears head coaching position. Now we know when he’ll officially be under contract.

Ben Johnson’s agent makes Chicago Bears coaching job official with this epic tweet – SI – Ben Johnson is officially the head coach of the Chicago Bears after his agency shared confirmation of the news on Twitter with this incredible tweet.

Where does Ben Johnson rank among NFC North head coaches? – SI – The Chicago Bears are nearing a deal to make Ben Johnson their next head coach. With rising star Caleb Williams under his guidance, could Johnson position himself as the top coach in a highly competitive NFC North?

Tom Pelissero: Ben Johnson is a ‘dream hire’ for Bears – 670 – Bears president Kevin Warren believed that his team’s head coaching opening would be the most coveted one in the NFL this hiring cycle. On Monday afternoon, it culminated with the most coveted candidate landing in Chicago.

Initial number making the rounds for Ben Johnson is $13 million per year – NBC Sports – We set the over/under at $14.5 million per year.

Bears’ hiring of Ben Johnson gives team not used to winning big victory – Chicago Sun-Times – The Bears won the job-search derby by landing the hottest head-coaching prospect on the planet.

Halas Intrigue Bears podcast: It’s Ben Johnson! – Chicago Sun-Times – The Bears found their man up in Detroit.

Ben Johnson the right hire for Bears, but will he be the right guy? – Chicago Sun-Times – In desperate need of a home run, Bears general manager Ryan Poles took a big swing and hired the hottest coordinator available. Now Johnson has to prove he’ll be as good with the Bears as he was with the Lions.

What to know about Ben Johnson, the Bears’ new head coach – Chicago Sun-Times – Johnson spent the last three years as the Lions’ offensive coordinator.

Hiring Ben Johnson is all about the Bears setting QB Caleb Williams up for success – Chicago Sun-Times – The Bears spent all last offseason trying to put Caleb Williams in the best position possible — and failed so poorly that their head coach and offensive coordinator were fired by December.

Bears to hire Lions OC Ben Johnson as coach; next step is assembling staff – Chicago Sun-Times – Johnson’s deal is expected to be completed soon, and he already is working to assemble a staff. That process is subject to the Rooney Rule, too, and will take time.

Column: Chicago Bears prospective coach Ben Johnson has big ideas – Chicago Tribune – Monday’s reported union between Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears is the biggest splash the team could have made at a time when they absolutely needed to make one.

Chicago Bears: 5 questions as they prepare to hire Ben Johnson – Chicago Tribune – What drew Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears? And who does he plan to hire on his coaching staff? Looking at some questions for the prospective new Bears coach.

Bears got it right with Ben Johnson, bringing hope to Chicago at pivotal time – The Athletic – We don’t know whether Johnson will lead Caleb Williams and the Bears to great heights, but he feels like the right guy for a very big job.

Report: Bears “heavily pursuing” Darren Rizzi for special teams coordinator job – NBC Sports – The Bears aren’t wasting any time in putting together a coaching staff after hiring Ben Johnson as head coach.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Dan Campbell prepared to lose both coordinators, “can’t allow” that to derail team – NBC Sports – The end of every season leads to change, but some changes are more significant than others and the Lions are set for a couple of major departures in the near future.

Dan Campbell: If we’d brought our B game, we would have had a chance to win – NBC Sports – Officially, the Commanders beat the Lions on Saturday night.

Penei Sewell: It’s BS to blame Jared Goff for playoff loss – NBC Sports – The Lions spent Sunday cleaning out their lockers and reflecting on Saturday night’s loss to the Commanders rather than preparing for the NFC Championship Game.

Dan Campbell: Lions had a “bizarre, freakish year” for defensive injuries – NBC Sports – The Lions’ defense suffered a staggering number of injuries during the 2024 season, up to and including in their loss to the Commanders on Saturday, and head coach Dan Campbell isn’t sure there was anything they could have done about it.

NFC North was one-and-done in the 2025 NFL playoffs – BW – The Bears won the same number of playoff games as the Lions, Vikings and Packers this postseason.

With Ben Johnson off the board, what’s next for the Raiders? – NBC Sports – Tom Brady and company will have to pivot to Plan B.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Jameson Williams will be hearing from the league office for his touchdown celebration – NBC Sports – Now THAT was a disgusting act.

Tom Brady finally addressed (sort of) his role with Raiders — but never said Ben Johnson’s name – NBC Sports – Tom Brady’s conflict of interest between his job with Fox and his partial ownership of the Raiders took center stage on Saturday night, given his team’s interest in Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

With Ben Johnson hired, Bears must quickly focus on the coaching staff – Windy City Gridiron – “Ladies and gentlemen, we got him”. Ben Johnson will be named the franchise’s 19th head coach in franchise history but the time to celebrate can wait. What’s next for the Chicago Bears and their brand new coaching staff.

Bears finally act like big-market team hiring Ben Johnson – Windy City Gridiron – The Bears made the big splash that they have avoided in years past, and it’s refreshing.

Report: Bears are hiring Ben Johnson as head coach – Windy City Gridiron – Well, that didn’t take long. As reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears are set to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the…

Week 3 Bears Head Coach/Assistant Coach Search News and Rumor Tracker – Windy City Gridiron – With Ben Johnson hired by the Bears, we’ll now track all the assistant coach news and rumors that pop up about Johnson’s new coaching staff in this tracker!

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