The mutual interest been the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is starting to heat up with the season starting to wind down.

Johnson for the last two years has been the hottest name for vacant head coaching jobs in the NFL but the young offensive mind opted both times to remain with the Lions as an assistant.

A few weeks back, it was reported that Johnson had his attention on Chicago to see what the team would do with their coaching staff following the 2023 season. Bears' general manager Ryan Poles choose to retain head coach Matt Eberflus, only for the team to fire him 13 weeks into the 2024 season.

Now that the head coaching position is open, the Bears will seriously consider the top candidate this time around to potentially become the team's next head coach, and Johnson is reportedly still interested in the role.

Prior to the Week 16 Sunday kickoffs, NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that Johnson is not only interested but "intrigued" by the Bears' head coach opening and is willing to listen to what the team could offer him.

"My understanding is (Ben) Johnson is intrigued by the Bears' job and he is going to be willing to listen," Pelissero said. "There's a lot to like in Chicago with Caleb Williams, tons of cap space, extra draft resources. Also, a major market…

"Team president Kevin Warren has a lot of connections around the league from his several decades from in pro and college football. That's allowed them to get a jump start on the search process gathering background as part of what is expected to be a thorough search led by Warren and general manager Ryan Poles. Interviews with current NFL assistants like Ben Johnson cannot begin until after the regular season."

The Insiders on @NFLGameDay with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: #Seahawks QB Geno Smith and RB Ken Walker II are both good to go today; #Ravens WR Diontae Johnson will find out Monday at 4 pm if he’s claimed; #Lions OC Ben Johnson is intrigued by the #Bears HC vacancy. pic.twitter.com/862mfQvFNO

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 22, 2024

That last line is the kicker for the Bears. Even if the mutual interest is there, the team cannot interview Johnson for the position until the regular season comes to a close and even then would have to work with his schedule during the Lions' playoff run.

Earlier this week, Johnson was asked about the potential of becoming a head coach in the NFL and took some time to evaluate the decision.

"Yeah, I'd say this, I think there's a burning desire in every man to find what he's made out of, push the limits and see if he's got what it takes," Johnson explained on Thursday. "So, yeah, there's a fire there. Now, when that time is, I don't know when that'll be, but there's certainly a fire there."

While the fire is there, Johnson has also previously noted that it would have to be the perfect circumstances for him to leave Detroit, which is why he didn't take a position during the last two cycles. Some of the things Johnson is searching for include having patience and connectivity between him and the team's GM and "recognition from the organization on what went wrong previously and the team's willingness to fix it".

For the Bears, those are going to be tough things to sell to Johnson given the team's recent history. But, Warren and Poles do have a strong selling point to use in the talks with Johnson and that selling point is rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

“It’s been difficult to just sit down and study every throw, but there’s no question that this guy is talented," Johnson said about Williams. "I remember standing on the sideline last game and you can hear the ball whistle by you. He’s got quite a fastball, has some creativity to him, can extend plays and is accurate down the field, as well. Like I said, I haven’t really dove in and can't tell you much more beyond that, but he’s been impressive from afar.”

Johnson will get another opportunity to view Williams from the sideline today when the Bears and Lions face off for the second time this season. And more importantly, Warren and Poles will get the opportunity to watch Johnson work from the opposite sideline as their coaching evaluations continue to ramp up.

Dan Campbell essentially gives two more big reasons why Ben Johnson probably won’t be leaving the Lions after the season

If you've been following me this year, then you know that I am all in on the idea that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson isn't going anywhere after this year.  Sure he's going to be the hottest head coaching candidate around, but he's also going to be the most careful. All we've heard from […]