Ben Johnson is widely considered the biggest name for the upcoming 2025 head coaching cycle. He fits the criteria in an era where young, hotshot offensive minds are all the rage. Across three seasons with the Detroit Lions, Johnson has produced three offenses ranked in the top 5. The team is 12-1 and closing in on their second straight division title, along with the #1 seed in the playoffs. It was surprising Johnson didn't land a job last year. Now, we may finally know why.
Clarence Hill Jr. has covered the Dallas Cowboys since the 1990s. He spoke on the AllCity NFL podcast about the prospects of Johnson maybe coming to Texas once Mike McCarthy is gone. However, there is one big problem. The coordinator's asking price is astronomically high.
Ben Johnson is playing a little too much hardball.
Asking for $15 million when your track record is only three years of coordinating experience is bold. Think about this. Andy Reid is the highest-paid coach in the league at $20 million. He has three Super Bowl rings and will be a Hall of Famer. Los Angeles just paid Jim Harbaugh $16 million. He was coming off a national championship at Michigan and led San Francisco to a Super Bowl berth in 2012. Sean McVay is making $15 million, and he won a Super Bowl in 2021. Ben Johnson believes he should be paid the same amount of money as these guys? Nobody disputes that the man deserves a head coaching job, but that feels a little ridiculous. Then again, it's the same amount of money as a decent edge rusher or #2 wide receiver makes. Perhaps the Bears won't mind shelling it out for a head coach.
It would be risky. Still, there isn't a Harbaugh or McVay set to be available this year. The Bears might as well swing for the fences.
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