Ben Johnson's contract details with the Chicago Bears have been revealed and here's the two biggest takeaways from the numbers
The Chicago Bears made it known quick that Ben Johnson was their guy and moved fast to make sure they landed the most prized candidate of the cycle.It was very out of character for the Bears and showed the entire NFL that the team is putting a plan in place to embrace the future and […]
The Chicago Bears made it known quick that Ben Johnson was their guy and moved fast to make sure they landed the most prized candidate of the cycle.
It was very out of character for the Bears and showed the entire NFL that the team is putting a plan in place to embrace the future and leave the past behind.
There's a lot of reasons why the Bears' process was different this time around in finding the team's next head coach, but the only thing that matters is that everyone involved was on the same page in what was needed out of the organization.
That includes opening up the pocket book and giving Johnson a hefty contract as far as new head coaches go. It took a while to finally get the numbers out there, but we might finally have them thanks to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.
Johnson signed a five-year deal with the Bears, which is common for many first-year head coaches, but the expected number is staggering. Per Cronin, Johnson is believed to be making $13 million a year and one source noted the team didn't cut any corners.
That should be seen as a great sign for Bears' fans. For comparison, Matt Eberflus was making $6 million a year as the Bears' head coach. To put it in even more perspective, if that number is true, that means Johnson is the 7th-highest paid head coach in the entire league by annual salary.
Johnson is ahead of proven, successful, coaches such as Dan Campbell, John Harbaugh, and Sean McDermott. The only coaches making more per year are Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Mike Tomlin, Jim Harbaugh, Sean McVay, and Kyle Shanahan.
The other takeaway from the revealed details of Johnson's deal is what happens with general manager Ryan Poles. After Johnson was hired, team president Kevin Warren stated that he would not reveal contract specifics regarding Poles' deal with the team but a source told Cronin that Poles' deal lasts through 2026 and the expectation is that he will get a new deal to line up his contract with Johnson's to have some sense of alignment in the organization.
"I truly believe in the character and integrity of this man," Johnson said of Poles during his introductory press conference. "We are going to be locked at the hip and connected every step of the way with all the decisions that are made."
So there you have it. This is an entirely new organization led by Poles and Johnson and everything seems to be pointing in the right direction for this franchise for the first time in a long time. And it's great to see everyone inside the building put their pride aside in order to do what was best for the Chicago Bears.
Ben Johnson’s latest coaching hire gives the Bears another connection to the team’s top free agent target
This adds even more smoke.
