Cowboys’ Coaching Search: An Embarrassment as Ben Johnson Joins the Bears
The Dallas Cowboys, a team steeped in tradition and expectation, have found themselves embroiled in a coaching search that has left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. The franchise’s search for the right leader to guide them back to championship contention has turned into a public spectacle, one that has highlighted their organizational dysfunction. A pivotal development in this saga is the unexpected hiring of Ben Johnson by the Chicago Bears, leaving many to wonder about the Cowboys’ strategy—or lack thereof.
Ben Johnson, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, has garnered a reputation as one of the brightest young minds in football. Under his guidance, the Lions’ offense evolved into one of the most dynamic units in the NFL, with impressive schemes that maximized the talents of quarterback Jared Goff and explosive playmakers like Amon-Ra St. Brown. Johnson’s ability to develop and adapt his offense, tailoring it to the strengths of his players, made him a hot commodity for teams looking to upgrade their coaching staff.
For the Cowboys, Johnson’s hiring by the Bears comes as a major blow. The Cowboys were reportedly interested in bringing him on board, but the Bears swooped in with a compelling offer. This marks a critical failure in the Cowboys’ coaching search, which has become increasingly puzzling as they struggle to land top-tier candidates.
The embarrassment stems not only from missing out on an up-and-coming offensive mind but also from the optics surrounding their search. Dallas, under head coach Mike McCarthy, has been a team of inconsistency. While McCarthy led the team to multiple playoff appearances, including a notable win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2022 Wild Card round, the Cowboys have fallen short of expectations year after year. A franchise with Super Bowl aspirations needs stability and leadership, yet their approach to securing top-tier coaching talent appears to be haphazard at best.
A key issue in the Cowboys’ coaching search is the uncertainty surrounding McCarthy’s future. While owner Jerry Jones has publicly backed McCarthy, rumors about a potential coaching change have loomed large. This cloud of uncertainty has likely played a role in the inability to land big-name candidates like Johnson. In contrast, the Bears—who have their own set of issues—were able to secure Johnson’s services by offering him a clear path to leadership. Johnson’s choice to join the Bears over the Cowboys signals a lack of confidence in Dallas’ current trajectory.
The Cowboys’ search has been further complicated by the fact that many of the top coaching candidates are either being retained by their current teams or have opted to work with franchises offering more stability. Meanwhile, Dallas remains in limbo, unsure of how to proceed.
This situation also raises questions about Jerry Jones’ influence on the team’s decision-making. While Jones has been a successful owner in many respects, his tendency to get involved in football operations has often been a point of contention. Some critics argue that Jones’ hands-on approach has stifled the Cowboys’ ability to bring in a head coach who can lead the team to sustained success.
As the Cowboys move forward in their coaching search, they must confront the reality that they have missed out on one of the most promising young coaches in the league. Ben Johnson’s hiring by the Bears is a reminder of how competitive the NFL landscape has become, and how Dallas’ inability to close the deal has left them playing catch-up in a race they should be leading. The question now is whether the Cowboys can recover from this embarrassing misstep or if their coaching search will continue to spiral into further uncertainty.