Bill Belichick's preference for certain NFL job is a message to Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is a top head coaching candidate again as another hiring cycle approaches. The question is if he'll leave the Detroit Lions, and we know he'll be selective and deliberate about doing so if he does.

In terms of one opening that is coming, the Chicago Bears, a different day or week might bring different sentiment about how Johnson feels about the job. Maybe he wanted it a year ago, but it never came open. Maybe he'd be turned off by hints of dysfunction from the top of the organization. Maybe there are strong reasons he'd strongly consider the job now, with it actually available, and maybe the Bears can convince him to come to Chicago.

What's undeniable is the Bears will have interest in Johnson, and they have some sellable points to present him in an interview. Hiring him will come down to selling themselves to him, more than him selling himself to them.

Insight into Bill Belichick's preferred NFL job sends message to Ben Johnson

In the wake of Bill Belichick deciding to become the next coach at the University of North Carolina, ESPN's Seth Wickersham has reported some details about an NFL job opening.

"According to sources with direct knowledge, the group deemed that the Chicago Bears were probably the most attractive job, but that team brass was unlikely to consider Belichick. The group expects the same thing that most around the league do: that the Bears will go offense, hoping to give quarterback Caleb Williams a chance at a career, probably targeting Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson."

The "group" around Belichick, part of a weekly Zoom call this season according to Wickersham, includes a group of former assistant coaches (Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels to name a couple names) as well as former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi, who worked with Belichick in New England and Cleveland.

That group deemed the Bears' head coaching job to "probably" be the most attractive job opening for Belichick, but team brass was unlikely to consider Belichick. So Wickersham's sources expect the Bears to probably target Johnson as their next head coach, with the clear focus on helping Caleb Williams reach the highest level he can.

The idea the Bears will make Johnson a top priority in their head coaching search is not new. What is new is that Belichick, Patricia, McDaniels, etc. deemed the Bears' job as the most attractive job that is or would be available in the upcoming hiring cycle.

We know Johnson will be careful with any decision to take a head coaching job, without worry for outside perception. But that Belichick (who has had little or no interest from NFL teams since leaving the Patriots) and his merry band of loyalists regard the Bears' job as the best one that'll be available should be a message to the Lions' offensive coordinator-and a big potential red flag.