Bears Hiring Ben Johnson Will Provide Patriots Fans Inevitable Opportunity

Should Ben Johnson elevate Caleb Williams and help the Bears quarterback reach his full potential, Patriots fans surely will take note.

“We could’ve hired him!“

“That could’ve been Drake Maye!“

Those sentiments, among others, will be shouted across New England when the opportunity to second-guess inevitably presents itself.

Johnson agreed to become the Chicago Bears head coach Monday evening, according to multiple reports. The up-and-coming offensive mind leaves the Lions after five seasons and joins one of Detroit’s divisional rivals.

The Patriots interviewed Johnson before they hired Mike Vrabel. Johnson and Vrabel were the only serious head coaching candidates the Pats interviewed after they fired Jerod Mayo.

Many media members (this writer included) and fans believed Robert Kraft and company made the right decision when they tabbed Vrabel the next head coach. Vrabel, the 2021 Coach of the Year, is experienced and knows what it takes to turn a program around. He’s a culture-builder and an all-encompassing leader the dysfunctional Patriots need. The fact Vrabel owns a red jacket as a Patriots Hall of Famer never hurt his case either.

But that’s not to say Vrabel was the unanimous choice.

Prior to the hiring of Vrabel, 34% of Patriots fans voted on a NESN poll that they wanted Johnson. Johnson was more of a cutting-edge hire. The 38-year-old is expected to be the next great offensive-minded head coach following the Rams’ Sean McVay and the Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell. Johnson could turn Maye into a superstar, many thought.

Those fans likely will have the chance to do some Monday morning quarterbacking.

The similarities between Williams and Maye, who were selected first and third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, respectively, open the door for such hindsight. If Williams, who had a lesser rookie season than Maye, outperforms the North Carolina product in his sophomore campaign, it will be called out. Shoot, any trick-play highlight from Johnson’s Bears could have the Foxboro Faithful wishing they saw it up close.

There’s always the chance it goes the other way, though. Perhaps Johnson proves to be in over his head as a first-year coach, or perhaps the offensive output isn’t enough to keep the Bears competitive as a team. Perhaps Johnson isn’t able to reestablish Chicago’s foundation like Vrabel is in New England.

That will prompt Bears fans to do some second-guessing of their own.