The NFL coaching carousel is always full of surprises, and this story is no exception! It turns out the Chicago Bears had a chance to hire veteran coach Pete Carroll, but they ultimately chose Ben Johnson instead. This revelation comes as a surprise to many, especially considering Carroll's impressive resume, which includes a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks and 11 playoff victories.
Carroll's Interest in the Bears Job
According to reports, Pete Carroll was seriously considered for the Bears' head coaching position. He even met with the team on January 9th. Carroll himself admitted to watching Caleb Williams closely, seemingly eyeing the Bears' job. "I did watch him a lot,’’ Carroll said. ‘‘And watched him a lot looking at that job, too.’’
Why Ben Johnson Over Carroll?
So, why did the Bears opt for Ben Johnson? Apparently, Johnson impressed the Bears during his Zoom interview, expressing his strong desire for the job. He quickly became the consensus choice among the team's brass. The Bears' brass is happy with the culture Johnson is building.
Johnson Faces Carroll in Las Vegas
The irony is that Johnson will now face Carroll and his Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. This matchup puts Johnson at a decided disadvantage in terms of NFL experience. Four of the next five head coaches Johnson will face have made the Super Bowl as a head coach: Carroll, the Commanders’ Dan Quinn, the Ravens’ John Harbaugh and the Bengals’ Zac Taylor.
Raiders Believed They Were Landing Johnson
Adding another layer to this story, Jason Fitz from Yahoo Sports reports that the Raiders truly believed they were going to hire Ben Johnson. "People in the inner circles of the Raiders really thought it was going to happen, and it didn’t. But I think Ben Johnson made the right decision, for a million different reasons.”
The Impact of the Decision
Only time will tell if the Bears made the right choice in hiring Johnson over Carroll. However, one thing is certain: the NFL coaching landscape is constantly evolving, and teams are always looking for the best fit for their organization.