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I mean I think he was available, he was a real candidate for washington. I think he'd have taken Chicago, so the answer is that the bears chose Matt for some reason.

So one true thing one thing that feels true but not sure: - Bengals rumored to be hiring ND DC Al Golden. He was their LB coach in 2021, but most of his career has been college. This follows GB hiring Boston College DC last year, Minter with Harbaugh, and ymmv but Macdonald from UMich. The college to pro DC pipeline is becoming pretty apparent. We hear a lot of college offenses influencing pros, but not sure it’s that. Seems like it’s a nice place for position coaches in nfl to go get playcalling, proof of coaching experience. - other thing that seems real…sure seems like great offensive coaches have been more capable in finding great DCs than vice versa. While I know a big part is supply, it does seem like the Defensive head coaches view every scheme as a gimmick they can stop…except running the ball. The unstoppable plan.

What does leader of men mean though? Just fiery? Allen isn’t fiery but I remember him being pretty liked by his players. It’s just hard to be a leader when you lose. Johnson is fiery. But is Shanahan a leader of men? Was KOC? I unno, but I think Allen’s time as a HC is a big help for Johnson.

Now everything is in the nicest light. They got to get info on the Vikings (Flores), Lions (obvious) and packers (Stepanovic). Everything is good again.

Im impressed most that they didn’t even interview him in person. The optics were not the reality, thankfully

I wonder if If Ben Johnson wants a RB the good news is this is a phenomenal draft for RB and you could get a great one at 39 or 41.

Right, the reason I'm more confident is because the general ether love Ben Johnson, not that the bears picked him out of a lineup. Nothing works out until it works out (buffalo, detroit, etc), but boy Johnson sure felt like the biggest coordinator hire since Shanahan. But...some may say Daboll. You never know, but I think other stuff sunk Daboll anyway.

Correct, absolutely. Now actually draft ?

I'm gonna kinda say...good job Warren? We went from people calling him an empty suit, to someone over-meddling in football business, to landing the top HC candidate and getting George to certainly pay him near Reid money. He's gonna be paid a ton.

Absolutely huge news. Great job bears on closing.

Everything today has felt a little bit better but we’ll see.

That could sound convincing to yourself, but Ben Johnson has made his career off Jared Goff and may not have same opinions on what’s possible with certain QBs. Brady could say they have $100 mill in cap, they’ll get darnold and draft Jeanty

Vikings? Why do we think Ben Johnson would be intimidated by going with darnold (or trading for JJ)

Maybe that’s true. I’ll continue to argue that Caleb’s year this year would have been Daniel’s first at LSU. But Daniels built in Lamar like rushing alongside his perfect deep ball were two things Caleb very much didn’t have and it would have made our offense better this year. Kliff meanwhile was the perfect hire. bears always make the wrong decision, I can’t defend them anymore. Caleb can still be great, but odds of that tanked when George mccaskey came within 100 yards of him

He doesn’t know either but he’s excited

This post is such a tell. Please try to back it up at all that there were posters mourning the loss of Paddy.

100% Please with the activity splurge we've been seeing in regards to keller. May not lead to anything, but the complete passiveness under Paddy was maddening.

I think with a different org it would be like "eh, new rules its hard to decide quick, may as well interview guys as favors/info gathering" With bears it feels like they inflexibly rely on structure to provide the look of credibility. If they were meeting a bunch but were like "there is a LOT of smoke around bears going all out for johnson", then it would be different. But feels like mccarthy and others could go off the board and bears would be like "well we have to do our round 3s according to our schedule"

Ah, sorry I thought he switched TO Armstrong. Schefter, who is great because he is telling me what I want to hear:

I kinda wonder if this is actually a meaningful bomb thrown into the process that could change how George operates. (Ben Johnson is not a trace client)

yeah chalk that up to youthful memory, he was much better than I realized. I think where I was at the time Parcells and Gibbs at that time seemed underwhelming what they were doing in dallas/washington because it was super hyped maybe? It's hard to remember years now. Well I have a new favorite reporter, killer work here: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43439332/nfl-coaching-carousel-2025-agents-package-deals-consultants-goodell-concern

I think for Flores to get an HC gig, he'd need to go to college and end up having a college QB that is a big time recruit and leaves advocating that Flores was completely different with him, as well as his assistants. It sucks but that Fitzgerald thing is just so similar to what it sounded like with Patricia, except clearly Flores is a way better coach in every other way.

well s%*#, I take that back I did NOT remember he made the playoffs 2 out of 4 years which was definitely one of the best runs in the Snyder era.

I'd say the parallel for TLR was the Joe Gibbs return to Washington.

Said it before but he’d be the exact same role Johnson just saw help turn around Detroit in Spielman. He’s a former player with no explicit role who just makes sure good football people are there