When the NFL releases its schedule in May, circle this date on your calendar: Chicago at Las Vegas. When the Bears play the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, should Ben Johnson accept an offer to become the next Las Vegas head coach, keep your children away from social media.
That’s because fans of the teams have been less than kind to each other as sources confirmed that Johnson blew away the Raiders with his preparation for his first interview and is strongly considering Las Vegas over Chicago. FS1 host Danny Parkins, an outspoken Bears fan, spoke for the team’s legion of followers.
“I get believing in yourself,” Parkins said on Breakfast Ball this week. “I get believing that you can overcome any mountain, climb to any summit, all that. … But if he chooses, after passing up the Washington job, turning down interviews, to not work with Caleb Williams and against Harbaugh, Payton, Reid, Herbert, Nix and Mahomes for a four-win team that has no quarterback, there’s confidence and then there’s delusion.”
“If Ben Johnson chooses to go to the Raiders, I will then be glad that he didn’t go to the Bears. And to be clear, I badly want him to go to the Bears, but if you choose the Raiders, you’re insane.”
Johnson’s sanity might come into focus if, as draft expert Dane Brugler predicted this week, quarterback Shedeur Sanders falls to Tom Brady and the Raiders at No. 6 overall. That combined with Johnson’s potential Super Bowl berth with the Lions next month might make the Raiders a logical choice.
The two franchises are a fascinating comparison. While each team has a plethora of rich history, Hall of Famers and world championships, neither has reached consistent success this century.
What’s more, Johnson surely has compared the AFC West coaches and quarterbacks with those in the NFC North, the first division in NFL history with two 14-win teams. He’s had a front-row seat in the division since he became the Lions’ offensive quality control coach in 2019.
And should Detroit win the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, don’t be surprised if the Lions’ offensive coordinator breaks the hearts of both franchises and stays in Detroit.
For more information on the Bears, Raiders or the NFL hiring cycle, visit the Chicago and Las Vegas team pages, and Coach/GM Carousel page at ProFootballPost.com.
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