Update: Bears to hire Ben Johnson as 19th head coach

For all things Chicago Bears

Moderator: wab

User avatar
Bearfacts
Head Coach
Posts: 3049
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:33 am
Location: Colorado
Has thanked: 2182 times
Been thanked: 489 times

HisRoyalSweetness wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:16 pm
Bearfacts wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:05 am :rofl: Sadly not something I've seen here although I confess to watching very little TV any longer. I refuse to pay the bastards who own the cable companies what they ask for their service. But if the Bears plan to actually play decent football again I suppose I'll have to give in to one that will carry their games.
You could probably find the series online. There are 4 of them each consisting of 6 episodes set in a different historical period:

The Black Adder (1485 at the end of Wars of the Roses)
Blackadder II (Elizabethan)
Blackadder The Third (Georgian)
Blackadder Goes Forth (World War 1)

There's also a one-off Christmas Special based on Dicken's A Christmas Carol.

The first series, written by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings & A Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Bridget Jones) and the series lead Rowan Atkinson who you'll probably recognise from Mr Bean and the Johnny English movies. It's not nealry as good as the later series where Ben Elton replaced Atkinson as a writer (who among many other things wrote We Will Rock You, the Queen musical). You'll recognise a few other British actors who appear in it including Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
Thanks. :toast:

And I am familiar with Rowan Atkinson and Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie although with Hugh more from his staring role in House. Based on that character it's always been hard to envision him as a comedic actor as well.
User avatar
Shadow
MVP
Posts: 1022
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2022 11:47 am
Has thanked: 132 times
Been thanked: 248 times

HisRoyalSweetness wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:16 pm
Bearfacts wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:05 am :rofl: Sadly not something I've seen here although I confess to watching very little TV any longer. I refuse to pay the bastards who own the cable companies what they ask for their service. But if the Bears plan to actually play decent football again I suppose I'll have to give in to one that will carry their games.
You could probably find the series online. There are 4 of them each consisting of 6 episodes set in a different historical period:

The Black Adder (1485 at the end of Wars of the Roses)
Blackadder II (Elizabethan)
Blackadder The Third (Georgian)
Blackadder Goes Forth (World War 1)

There's also a one-off Christmas Special based on Dicken's A Christmas Carol.

The first series, written by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings & A Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Bridget Jones) and the series lead Rowan Atkinson who you'll probably recognise from Mr Bean and the Johnny English movies. It's not nealry as good as the later series where Ben Elton replaced Atkinson as a writer (who among many other things wrote We Will Rock You, the Queen musical). You'll recognise a few other British actors who appear in it including Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.
Or do like I did and got the entire Black Adder series on DVD. It is a great Show. I also like Red Dwarf, but I am weird that way. Was Lexx also British made, I can't remember.
Bears are actually dating the Prom Queen, who would have thought it?
What alternate universe is this?
Did I fall down the wrong trouser leg of time?
:banana: :headbang: :applaud:
User avatar
Shadow
MVP
Posts: 1022
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2022 11:47 am
Has thanked: 132 times
Been thanked: 248 times

HisRoyalSweetness wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:56 pm
Ditka’s dictaphone wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:28 pm

Slang for plane/spitfire during the war :thumbsup:
Wrong war buddy! Blackadder Goes Forth is set during the First World War. The kite's slang for a plane but not a Second World War Spitfire. It would have been a bi-plane.
So slang for a Sopwith Camel? Snoopy's favorite Kite for going against the Baron.
Bears are actually dating the Prom Queen, who would have thought it?
What alternate universe is this?
Did I fall down the wrong trouser leg of time?
:banana: :headbang: :applaud:
HurricaneBear
Head Coach
Posts: 3051
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 6:56 am
Has thanked: 3848 times
Been thanked: 755 times

Can we get back to talking about Ben Johnson?
User avatar
Bearfacts
Head Coach
Posts: 3049
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:33 am
Location: Colorado
Has thanked: 2182 times
Been thanked: 489 times

Shadow wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:07 am
HisRoyalSweetness wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:56 pm

Wrong war buddy! Blackadder Goes Forth is set during the First World War. The kite's slang for a plane but not a Second World War Spitfire. It would have been a bi-plane.
So slang for a Sopwith Camel? Snoopy's favorite Kite for going against the Baron.
Kite because a bi-plane's wings would remind some of a box kite?
User avatar
Bearfacts
Head Coach
Posts: 3049
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:33 am
Location: Colorado
Has thanked: 2182 times
Been thanked: 489 times

HurricaneBear wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:14 am Can we get back to talking about Ben Johnson?
Ohhh.....so you don't like Snoopy eh? :rofl:
RichH55
Hall of Famer
Posts: 9740
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 4:23 pm
Has thanked: 713 times
Been thanked: 870 times

Rusty Trombagent wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2025 5:50 pm
Moriarty wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2025 5:39 pm


Challenge Accepted

https://www.google.com/search?q=black+e ... s-wiz-serp

yeah, black eyed peas are a national treasure.

[Pre-Chorus: All, will.i.am]
Everybody (Yeah), everybody (Yeah)
Just get into it (Yeah), get stupid (Come on)
Get retarded (Come on), get retarded (Yeah)
Get retarded

[Chorus: will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Fergie]
Let's get retarded (Hah)
Let's get retarded in here
Let's get retarded (Hah)
Let's get retarded in here
Let's get retarded (Hah)
Let's get retarded in here
Let's get retarded (Hah)
Let's get retarded in here, yeah
Behind the Scenes

User avatar
HisRoyalSweetness
Hall of Famer
Posts: 9305
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:20 pm
Has thanked: 131 times
Been thanked: 3608 times

A bit more on the last interview the Bears held before hiring Ben Johnson:
Bears coaching candidate Eddie George says interview was legitimate, not merely to satisfy Rooney Rule

When word leaked shortly after the Lions got knocked out of the playoffs that the Bears planned to bring in Tennessee State coach Eddie George for an interview, then proceeded to hire Johnson the next day, it appeared as though George’s interview was primarily to get the Bears compliant with the Rooney Rule.

Chairman George McCaskey denied that, saying George was a legitimate candidate, and George said this week that was his understanding as well.

George told The Tennessean that the Bears reached out before the Lions game and that he asked for two days to decide whether he wanted to interview, indicating it wasn’t as last-second as it looked. He said he asked the Bears upfront whether this was simply to fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement of having two minority candidates come for in-person interviews — the Bears had interviewed only one in person at that point — and was told no.

“The thing about the Rooney Rule is, it doesn’t matter how you get in the room,” George said. “Whether it’s through the front door, backdoor, side door, window or the roof — if I get in the room, you still gotta deal with me. Then I’ve got to go out there and perform, meaning I’ve still got to interview well.”
...

“On our first call, I said to them flat out, ‘Hey, interview someone that is really going to be worthy of this,’” George said. “And they said, ‘We wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t for that. We’re casting our net wide. We think highly of you and what you’ve been able to do. And if things don’t work out, you still got your name out there in these rooms and the opportunity to work your interview muscle.’”

Full article: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025 ... ooney-rule
User avatar
IotaNet
MVP
Posts: 1913
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:04 am
Location: Minneapolis (Chicago Native)
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 518 times

HisRoyalSweetness wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 4:19 pm A bit more on the last interview the Bears held before hiring Ben Johnson:
Bears coaching candidate Eddie George says interview was legitimate, not merely to satisfy Rooney Rule

“The thing about the Rooney Rule is, it doesn’t matter how you get in the room,” George said. “Whether it’s through the front door, backdoor, side door, window or the roof — if I get in the room, you still gotta deal with me. Then I’ve got to go out there and perform, meaning I’ve still got to interview well.”
...

We’re casting our net wide. We think highly of you and what you’ve been able to do. And if things don’t work out, you still got your name out there in these rooms and the opportunity to work your interview muscle.’”
Thats precisely what I said about this interview. And that’s the primary purpose of the rule: To get guys into (interview) rooms that they normally wouldn’t get into.

Now Eddie has had a chance to understand first-hand how the process works, how to sharpen his interview game, and where to shore up his resume.
“Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.”

- Gen. Colin Powell
User avatar
dplank
Hall of Famer
Posts: 15155
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:19 am
Has thanked: 2095 times
Been thanked: 3584 times

This is an important part of the plan that isn’t often noted, well said
User avatar
G08
Hall of Famer
Posts: 22490
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:34 pm
Has thanked: 636 times
Been thanked: 1464 times

According to a team source with knowledge of the situation, Poles' deal runs through the 2026 season, and the expectation is he will receive an extension to align him with Johnson, who signed a five-year contract with Chicago, a term that is common for first-time head coaches.
LG - Trey Smith: 5 yr/$110M || OC - Drew Dalman: 5 yr/$80M
Image
User avatar
IotaNet
MVP
Posts: 1913
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:04 am
Location: Minneapolis (Chicago Native)
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 518 times

Excellent article and excellent reporting by Courtney Cronin.

What this says to me (and what so many people have a hard time believing) are the simple facts that:

1) George McCaskey realized that the way the Bears was doing business was missing the mark

2) He decided to fix it by hiring a knowledgeable, experienced, and respected, football executive in Warren

3) Warren is doing his job like a BOSS, which is to turn the Bears into a 21st century football operation. (Key word is OPERATION. Hiring, managing, decision-making, and all the little things that show folks that they are dealing with a professional org, and not a mom-and-pop. Besides BJ's hiring process, did you see how well his debut was staged? All the employees on the rail cheering -- do you think that happened by accident?)

4) "Warren was hired only to get the stadium done" is one of the laziest, most asinine, and uninformed takes in the world.

5) Corollary: "Warren hasn't gotten the stadium done so he is a failure." More laziness and stupidity. Anyone with a brain in their head should know that a multi-billion-dollar project doesn't happen overnight. It also doesn't happen by executives providing the public with weekly updates on how they're negotiating the deal.

TL;dr Folks need to STFU and sit tight. The Bears have turned a corner and are taking care of business. Get out of your lazy pessimism, use some critical thinking, and come into the 21st century.

Inside the Bears hiring of coach Ben Johnson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- On Sunday, Jan. 19, the day after the Detroit Lions' surprising playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, the Chicago Bears discussed whether to fly their hiring committee to Michigan to show Ben Johnson how badly they wanted him to be their head coach, according to a team source.

Johnson, the Lions' offensive coordinator since 2022 and a top candidate for three straight coaching cycles, had gone dark after interviewing virtually with the Bears on Jan. 11 during Detroit's first-round bye. League rules prevented Chicago and other teams from meeting with Johnson for a second interview until Jan. 20, two days after Detroit's season ended.

Continues here: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/436 ... b-williams
Last edited by IotaNet on Mon Feb 03, 2025 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
“Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.”

- Gen. Colin Powell
User avatar
dplank
Hall of Famer
Posts: 15155
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:19 am
Has thanked: 2095 times
Been thanked: 3584 times

IotaNet wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:43 am Excellent article and excellent reporting by Courtney Cronin.

What this says to me (and what so many people have a hard time believing) are the simple facts that:

1) George McCaskey realized that the way the Bears was doing business was missing the mark

2) He decided to fix it by hiring a knowledgeable, experienced, and respected, football executive in Warren

3) Warren is doing his job like a BOSS, which is to turn the Bears into a 21st century football operation. (Key word is OPERATION. Hiring, managing, decision-making, and all the little things that show folks that they are dealing with a professional org, and not a mom-and-pop. Besides BJ's hiring process, did you see how well his debut was staged? All the employees on the rail cheering -- do you think that happened by accident?)

4) "Warren was hired only to get the stadium done" is one of the laziest, most asinine, and uninformed takes in the world.

5) Corollary: "Warren hasn't gotten the stadium done so he is a failure." More laziness and stupidity. Anyone with a brain in their head should know that a multi-billion-dollar project doesn't happen overnight. It also doesn't happen by executives providing the public with weekly updates on how they're negotiating the deal.

TL;dr Folks need to STFU and sit tight. The Bears have turned a corner and are taking care of business. Get out of your lazy pessimism, use some critical thinking, and come into the 21st century.

Inside the Bears hiring of coach Ben Johnson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- On Sunday, Jan. 19, the day after the Detroit Lions' surprising playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, the Chicago Bears discussed whether to fly their hiring committee to Michigan to show Ben Johnson how badly they wanted him to be their head coach, according to a team source.

Johnson, the Lions' offensive coordinator since 2022 and a top candidate for three straight coaching cycles, had gone dark after interviewing virtually with the Bears on Jan. 11 during Detroit's first-round bye. League rules prevented Chicago and other teams from meeting with Johnson for a second interview until Jan. 20, two days after Detroit's season ended.

Continues here: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/436 ... b-williams
Preach it from the rooftops!
User avatar
Hema2.0
MVP
Posts: 1210
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 4:24 pm
Has thanked: 1041 times
Been thanked: 290 times

G08 wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:21 am
According to a team source with knowledge of the situation, Poles' deal runs through the 2026 season, and the expectation is he will receive an extension to align him with Johnson, who signed a five-year contract with Chicago, a term that is common for first-time head coaches.
Can almost guarantee that this was a prerequisite for Johnson taking the job.
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Caleb, and Super Bowls followed with him.
User avatar
G08
Hall of Famer
Posts: 22490
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:34 pm
Has thanked: 636 times
Been thanked: 1464 times

LG - Trey Smith: 5 yr/$110M || OC - Drew Dalman: 5 yr/$80M
Image
User avatar
HisRoyalSweetness
Hall of Famer
Posts: 9305
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:20 pm
Has thanked: 131 times
Been thanked: 3608 times

G08 wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:19 pm
Let's hope the new guy's training regimes help significantly reduce the OL injuries in particular.
Ditka’s dictaphone
Hall of Famer
Posts: 5545
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:33 pm
Has thanked: 1266 times
Been thanked: 1313 times

“J Arthur” - makes sense in rhyming slang
Taking a break from screen time for Lent. Wish me luck. :thumbsup:
User avatar
UOK
Site Admin
Posts: 25869
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:07 am
Location: Champaign, IL
Has thanked: 140 times
Been thanked: 1392 times

HisRoyalSweetness wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:58 pm
G08 wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 8:19 pm
Let's hope the new guy's training regimes help significantly reduce the OL injuries in particular.
Better technique and consistent personnel as an OL unit will reduce injuries too, so it helps the OL coach seems like an improvement.
Image
User avatar
Mighty Joe Young
Pro Bowler
Posts: 464
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:43 am
Has thanked: 137 times
Been thanked: 78 times

IotaNet wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:43 am Excellent article and excellent reporting by Courtney Cronin.

What this says to me (and what so many people have a hard time believing) are the simple facts that:

1) George McCaskey realized that the way the Bears was doing business was missing the mark

2) He decided to fix it by hiring a knowledgeable, experienced, and respected, football executive in Warren

3) Warren is doing his job like a BOSS, which is to turn the Bears into a 21st century football operation. (Key word is OPERATION. Hiring, managing, decision-making, and all the little things that show folks that they are dealing with a professional org, and not a mom-and-pop. Besides BJ's hiring process, did you see how well his debut was staged? All the employees on the rail cheering -- do you think that happened by accident?)

4) "Warren was hired only to get the stadium done" is one of the laziest, most asinine, and uninformed takes in the world.

5) Corollary: "Warren hasn't gotten the stadium done so he is a failure." More laziness and stupidity. Anyone with a brain in their head should know that a multi-billion-dollar project doesn't happen overnight. It also doesn't happen by executives providing the public with weekly updates on how they're negotiating the deal.

TL;dr Folks need to STFU and sit tight. The Bears have turned a corner and are taking care of business. Get out of your lazy pessimism, use some critical thinking, and come into the 21st century.

Inside the Bears hiring of coach Ben Johnson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- On Sunday, Jan. 19, the day after the Detroit Lions' surprising playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, the Chicago Bears discussed whether to fly their hiring committee to Michigan to show Ben Johnson how badly they wanted him to be their head coach, according to a team source.

Johnson, the Lions' offensive coordinator since 2022 and a top candidate for three straight coaching cycles, had gone dark after interviewing virtually with the Bears on Jan. 11 during Detroit's first-round bye. League rules prevented Chicago and other teams from meeting with Johnson for a second interview until Jan. 20, two days after Detroit's season ended.

Continues here: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/436 ... b-williams
I'd say this is 99% correct.

Only quibbles is I think there may have been some behind the scenes intervention in getting Warren to the Bears. Warren is the one who I believe convinced George to handle this the way a team should (and Warren has been cleaning up all the Trace Armstrong influence from the front office, except for Poles, who played ball).

The stadium will be in AH, and Warren is using Chicago as leverage for negotiations in that deal.

And ultimately, I think the reason Warren was "sent" to the Bears was go get them in top shape so that way they can sell the team for top dollar. The McCaskey kids all want to cash out. None of them want to run the team.
User avatar
dplank
Hall of Famer
Posts: 15155
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:19 am
Has thanked: 2095 times
Been thanked: 3584 times

I don't understand why they would want to cash out. They already have more money than they could ever spend, so what's the point? People get rich so they can do cool shit like buy football teams, they already have one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. Plus it's the family legacy. I don't see them ever selling it, I certainly wouldn't.
User avatar
Mighty Joe Young
Pro Bowler
Posts: 464
Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:43 am
Has thanked: 137 times
Been thanked: 78 times

dplank wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:23 pm I don't understand why they would want to cash out. They already have more money than they could ever spend, so what's the point? People get rich so they can do cool shit like buy football teams, they already have one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. Plus it's the family legacy. I don't see them ever selling it, I certainly wouldn't.
Oh trust me, I get it. But the kids supposedly are sick of the Bears. I'm sure you're aware of trust fund kids. That is literally the McCaskey kids.

Apparently, not a single one of them see the potential of staying on and maximizing profits. They just want their bag and to go their separate ways.

This isn't apparently what George, Pat, Brian, Michael, or Ed Jr want, as they hoped one of the kids would want to keep the team in the family, but they apparently are now resigned to the idea that none of their descendants want the team.
User avatar
HisRoyalSweetness
Hall of Famer
Posts: 9305
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:20 pm
Has thanked: 131 times
Been thanked: 3608 times

Some sound advice from the last OC hired to be the Bears head coach:

User avatar
dplank
Hall of Famer
Posts: 15155
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:19 am
Has thanked: 2095 times
Been thanked: 3584 times

User avatar
Moriarty
Hall of Famer
Posts: 8318
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 1:22 pm
Has thanked: 662 times
Been thanked: 1285 times

1999-2002: Mouth Off Sports Forum (RIP)
2002-2014: KFFL (RIP)
2014-2016: USAToday Fantasy Sports Forum (RIP)

Hello, my name is Moriarty. I have come to kill your website, prepare to die.
User avatar
IotaNet
MVP
Posts: 1913
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:04 am
Location: Minneapolis (Chicago Native)
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 518 times

Moriarty wrote: Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:16 pm Chico takes job at Cal

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/ex ... fc2b&ei=12
Yes, I saw that. Good for him. That’s strikes me as a good gig.
“Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.”

- Gen. Colin Powell
User avatar
thunderspirit
Head Coach
Posts: 4497
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2016 12:51 pm
Location: Greater Chicagoland, IL
Has thanked: 1056 times
Been thanked: 886 times

Oh, good for him. Hope he's successful there.
KFFL refugee.

dplank wrote:I agree with Rich here
RichH55 wrote: Dplank is correct
:shocked:
RichH55
Hall of Famer
Posts: 9740
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 4:23 pm
Has thanked: 713 times
Been thanked: 870 times

User avatar
IotaNet
MVP
Posts: 1913
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:04 am
Location: Minneapolis (Chicago Native)
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 518 times

“Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.”

- Gen. Colin Powell
User avatar
Rusty Trombagent
Hall of Famer
Posts: 8353
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 11:19 am
Location: Maine!
Has thanked: 906 times
Been thanked: 1780 times

User avatar
HisRoyalSweetness
Hall of Famer
Posts: 9305
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:20 pm
Has thanked: 131 times
Been thanked: 3608 times

IotaNet wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 8:40 pm
Per nfl.com:
The new Bears head coach won in a landslide with 364 points, including 29 first-place votes. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores (143 points) finished second and Lions DC Aaron Glenn (110) -- now head coach of the Jets -- placed third, with Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (109) right behind him and Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady (73) in fifth.
Locked