Lions OC Ben Johnson leaving to become Bears head coach

[CharVike]

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/1/2 ... head-coach
That could hurt the Lions. Gives the Bears a better chance?

[cogitator]

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025/1/2 ... head-coach
That could hurt the Lions. Gives the Bears a better chance?

Probably hurts Lions more than helps Bears, at least initially. First year head coaches frequently struggle for a year or two, it's a big step up, and a different skill set than the coordinator position. And of course many of them just don't work out.

I feel a little bad for the Lions fans, I saw a list of Lions defensive starters that have been hurt this year, they really got wiped out, still had the best record in the NFC. I'm sure they expected to make the Super Bowl, I more or less had them sailing through the NFC playoffs at least.

[VikingLord]

I feel a little bad for the Lions fans, I saw a list of Lions defensive starters that have been hurt this year, they really got wiped out, still had the best record in the NFC. I'm sure they expected to make the Super Bowl, I more or less had them sailing through the NFC playoffs at least.

Nearly everyone did, not least of all them.

But I don't feel sorry for them at all. No Minnesota Vikings fan should feel sorry for the fans of any other team. Yes, the Lions haven't done squat throughout most of their history, while the Vikings now lead the NFL in total playoff losses in history. Not sure which one is worse - not being good enough to matter, or being a perpetual tease. But I feel no pity for the fans of any other team and never will until maybe the Vikings actually win a Superbowl.

[cogitator]

Lions DC now also leaving, for Jets job. That seems less of a problem for the Lions than the OC leaving, the defense has been the weak spot for the team for the last two years. Still, a new DC and OC means new systems being put in place, that always takes time for the players to adjust.

Any word on if Flores is on anyone's radar for a head coaching position?

[CharVike]

Lions DC now also leaving, for Jets job. That seems less of a problem for the Lions than the OC leaving, the defense has been the weak spot for the team for the last two years. Still, a new DC and OC means new systems being put in place, that always takes time for the players to adjust.

Any word on if Flores is on anyone's radar for a head coaching position?

I don't think he is. Last I heard was Jets. That's gone. I think this hurts the Lions. The playoff loss didn't help either. The team had injuries but the O let them down.

[makila]

Lions DC now also leaving, for Jets job. That seems less of a problem for the Lions than the OC leaving, the defense has been the weak spot for the team for the last two years. Still, a new DC and OC means new systems being put in place, that always takes time for the players to adjust.

Any word on if Flores is on anyone's radar for a head coaching position?

It was confirmed that three teams had asked to interview; Jets, Bears, and Jags. Obviously two of them have filled their HC spots. I read yesterday that the Jags had narrowed their candidates down to a final three, and he was not one of them. So it appears he'll be returning. Obviously fluid though.