Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was the most sought-after name on the NFL head coach market this year and was expected to have his choice of available positions. On Monday, he accepted the Chicago Bears’ offer to become their new head coach.

The Bears knew they’d have to outbid other teams to land him. They did just that, offering Johnson a lucrative contract that will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league, surpassing even the top free agent signing of 2024.

At 38, Johnson has been instrumental in the Lions’ success over the past three years, transforming their offense into the league’s best. Under his leadership, the Lions became the most creative offensive team, excelling in both passing and rushing.

Now, Johnson heads to a franchise that has never had a 4,000-yard passer and has struggled offensively for years. In Chicago, he has promising pieces, including a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams, making it a potentially perfect match.

As mentioned, the Bears had to outbid others, and they did so with a hefty offer for Johnson.

We initially set the over/under at $14.5 million per year, which seemed high. But not by much.

The early reports suggest Johnson’s contract with the Bears is worth $13 million annually.

If true (though one source referred to the figure as “speculation”), it represents a substantial increase from the typical entry-level salary of about $8 million per year. It’s the kind of deal that grabs the attention of someone with other options.

At $13 million per year, Johnson would make more annually than Saquon Barkley does in his 3-year, $37 million contract with the Eagles. Given that Barkley may have been the league’s best player this year, that’s an enormous deal for a coach.

Now, Johnson will need to justify that salary by turning things around in Chicago.