ESPN REPORT: Ben Johnson Chicago Bears Head Coach Stuns College Football World, Rejects Jaw-Dropping $65 Million OCC Offer from Georgia, Notre Dame to Remain With Chicago Bears ; ‘I Have No Plans Beyond Being the Head Coach… full Details.
In order to hire Ben Johnson as their new head coach, the Chicago Bears went above and beyond, even paying him among the highest salaries for a new head coach.
In a new article by ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, a team source revealed that Johnson signed a five-year, $65 million contract worth $13 million per year. That’s well above what most first-time head coaches receive and speaks volumes about how badly the Bears wanted Johnson. For comparison, former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus made $6 million per year.
A team source with knowledge of the matter claims that Poles’ contract expires in 2026, and it is anticipated that he will be given an extension to match Johnson, who agreed to a five-year deal with Chicago—a typical arrangement for new head coaches.
First time head coaches are less likely to receive high compensation. Eberflus earned $6 million year, whereas he is thought to earn $13 million. The Bears “did not cut corners” in terms of Johnson’s compensation,
