But the Coaching Turmoil Might Be Over Now That the Bears Have Hired Ben Johnson.
“Modern football in the NFL is quarterback-driven. That is no secret.” – Ben Johnson
Scott Kacsmar (betus.com) — Fans of the Chicago Bears were so happy after the 2024 NFL draft that their team finally found “The One” in Caleb Williamsafter basically searching for a franchise quarterback since Sid Luckman retired in 1950. The NFL news and predictions in Chicago were so optimistic for a change.
Well, 2024 didn’t go as planned, but new Bears head coach Ben Johnson took the job because he also believes Williams is The One, a role he might be playing up too hard after he showed up to Johnson’s presser dressed like Neo from The Matrix.
I can already hear Wake Upby Rage Against the Machine accompanying the Bears QB out of the building. But Williams said the last 12 months have felt like he was in The Matrix, a nod to the coaching turmoil that plagued his rookie season when the Bears started 4-2 and won one more game the rest of the year.
Look, no one in the NFC North ended up winning a playoff game let alone the 2025 Super Bowl, so they’re all pretty miserable going into the offseason. But the Bears have some hope on their side with Morpheus and Neo Johnson and Williams together.
Ben Johnson Is a Great Hire
Are we really taking the red pill on the Bears again after last year when they lost 10 straight NFL games out of their bye week? You want to give this franchise credit for a great move, and most people had Williams as the No. 1 quarterback in his draft class. Williams spent his rookie 2024 season on an offense ranked 32nd in the NFL with only 284.6 total yards per game.
Then it just so happens that Jayden Daniels, who went No. 2 to Washington, looks like the best rookie ever and is already eyeing a Super Bowl appearance on a roster no one was comparing favorably to Chicago.
But I’m willing to cut the Bears some slack because keeping Matt Eberflus as the coach was an awful decision. Williams showed enough potential as a rookie, and the hiring of Johnson seems like a good fit as he’s a creative mind who coordinated a great offense in Detroit for Jared Goff.
It was Johnson’s presser that sold me on the hire.
“Modern football in the NFL is quarterback-driven,” Johnson said. “That is no secret. You can look at analytics right now, quarterback success is a higher predictor of winning and losing than turnover ratio, which it’s been for 20-plus years.”
He’s right. People are overemphasizing turnovers and “safe” play. In fact, the 2024 Bears lost nine straight games at one point despite Williams never throwing an interception in any of them. The previous NFL record for that was five games. Yet, what good is not throwing picks if you’re not scoring enough points to win games?
The way Johnson said he’ll build his offense with Williams as the foundation is very refreshing to hear. He’s not going to force his playbook on him and expect him to be robotic like Goff. He’s going to create something new with the pieces he has in Chicago, which doesn’t include much of an offensive line yet.
It’s a tough division but show me any NFL betting odds for the 2025 Bears and I’m likely to take the over in wins. I’m ready to see where this rabbit hole goes with Caleb and Johnson.
“We hopped on the phone, and we shared the same excitement for him being the coach here and us be able to grow and go on this journey together,” Williams told ChicagoBears.com. “He has a sense of fire. You can see it in him, which, I would say I have a very similar fire. He has that competitiveness and a sense of no-nonsense.
“He told me that it’ll be my offense,” Williams said. “He’s going to build around me, but also, he’s going to test me. He’s going to challenge me in the offseason and things like that to what’s worked and what works in the NFL and things he may want me to get better at. But at the end of the day, if that doesn’t fit me, if it doesn’t work with me, it won’t be there.”
“There is no question this guy is talented,” Johnson told reporters back on Dec. 20. “I remember standing on the sideline last game, and just, you can hear the ball whistle by you. He’s got quite a fastball, and has some creativity to him, can extend plays, and is accurate down the field as well.”
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Hubbard & Sample, why couldn’t the BOTs have continued in that path using the leadership DNA of these two to find a clone able & willing to build on the success USC realized up to that point? I don’t remember USC in financial straits so why was Max Nickias necessary? What his leadership did in a short period of time negated what his predessessors accomplished in both academics moving up in national rankings as well as supporting a long tradition in competitive sports. This was such a poor decision putting the greed of fundraising as the priority over a questionable… Read more »
The Trojans football program is one of the best over the years and consistently builds NFL talent. Through the 2023 season, USC has had at least one player play in at least 49 of the 57 Super Bowls. Sam Darnold was on the 49ers roster as a backup for the 2024 Super Bowl which was won by the Chiefs 25-22. With the Eagles (no Trojans on team) headed to the Super Bowl (leading 55-23 over the Commanders with three mins to go), the Trojans will have no players in this year’s New Orleans Super Bowl if the Bills beat the favored… Read more »
The Chieferees helped the Chiefs, as usual. Gotta have those T. Swift close ups for the Super Bowl broadcast to bring in the moron, brainless Swiftees demo for the ratings.
Many say both the NFL and college football have become a younger man’s game.
So much time, energy, and constant focus is required at each level of ball, especially with the professionalization of the college game.
But don’t tell that to the Raiders, who just invested in 73-year-old Pete Carrol, now the official elderly statesman of the League. Or the Chiefs, who are looking for their record-breaking 3rd-straight Super Bowl win under 66-year-old Andy Reid. Or the North Carolina Tar Heels, who just scooped up 72-year-old Bill Belichick from the Patriots’ dustbin.
If I ever have to watch Josh Allen lamely try to push through or leap over his left guard again for a yard, I’ll scream. That was literally and bizarrely the Bills’ entire game plan in crucial 4th and short situations, and Allen got stuffed more times than a Xmas turkey. Oh, and the Chiefs knew what was coming, every time. Like many, I was heartily rooting for the Bills to break the super-coached Chiefs and get into the Super Bowl. But the refs didn’t lose this game for the Bills. Their playcalling was totally pedestrian compared to Andy Reid’s.… Read more »
This ! KC had short yardage, they ran beautiful boots with Mahomes.
Meanwhile, as you mentioned, Bills forced their athletic 6’5 240lb into a 21 man pile.
Hope Reid puts up 50 vs Philly.
The Chiefs have become the team America likes to hate a little because they win so much and underdogs are easy to root for. I watched the replays on the two most critical calls of the game about ten times each it seemed (these reviews take way too long!) and I still don’t know which way the calls should have gone. Flipping a coin seemed as accurate as any resolution to me. It makes one wonder how many important missed calls there were before replay that we never had the opportunity to get all riled up about. All I know… Read more »
Chad Bowden will report to Athletic Director Jen Cohen. He’s an equal to the sly deceiver Lincoln Riley. Riley is being watched like a red headed stepchild caught stealing lunch money. If he intends to keep playing the few songs in his football jukebox, he’ll get slapped to sleep, and then slapped some more for sleeping. Disregard Riley’s welcome of Chad Bowden. Heritage Hall would be wise to install an odometer on Lincoln Riley’s lips. If they’re moving, he’s lying, again. He’s got those 20 USC football plays in that little pad he carries. He’s flashy as a rat with… Read more »
I’m not a lawyer so my comments on this subject may not make a lot of sense. But I don’t see why they can’t just have the NFL allow players to enter its ranks right after High School(like basketball) and then say that college sports are for students so if you want to play for money then go pro. Otherwise, if you are good enough some college will give you a scholarship to go to college and also play football. The way the system is now, what is there to keep high school players from saying that they want part… Read more »
From a human development stand point, I doubt few if any 18 year olds are big enough and strong enough to make it in the NFL. While 18 is the average, some men may experience minor growth spurts into their early 20s. College football is the minor leagues for the NFL while also serving as an opportunity for higher education. The NFL doesn’t have to fund any of it and gets game ready 20-22 year olds.
I agree that most 18 year olds are not big enough or strong enough. Then let them play in the United Football League or one of those leagues they have in the summer or go to college and play college ball until they are ready to go pros but no money until they get to the pros.Really, college is for education. They should not be able to destroy the college game.
I can imagine NFL owners see what the NBA owners have to go through dealing with teenagers in a man’s World and don’t want any part of it. They may have studied the MLB minor league system as a precaution if the future ever lead to complete freedom of choice for HS athletes to ponder and the ramifications. But if I were the NFL, I would do everything possible to keep CFB solvent enough not to begin dismissing itself from higher education responsibility. The problem I see is NFL ownership is made up a lot of 80+ yr olds who… Read more »
LAT — Hubbard, who was an expert on British diplomatic history and U.S.-India ties, continued to teach part-time at USC until he was 91, even if it meant sometimes leaning on a walker. “He was a strong, tough Texan, no question about it,” said friend John Callaghan, a USC associate professor of kinesiology, who also recalled Hubbard as a first-rate scholar with a global perspective. “He really knew a tremendous amount about the growth of the British Empire, its stability and its eventual decline,” Callaghan said.
Black Jack was a terror on the SC sidelines … actually got a 15 yd unsportsmanlike penalty at Hawaii in 1978. John Robinson was ticked and said ‘who was it on!’ … ref said ‘ your school president’
I would presume he reports to LR. After all, he is the HC.
But if I were Bowden, I wouldn’t take any big-time job unless I had enough autonomy and input to make myself something more way more than a simple yes man.
Bowden was hired by Cohen, who is certainly no shrinking violet, because LR needs his help to succeed at USC. I would expect LR to listen to his advice. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of money and talent, and the need to finally repair USC football is ignored.
Looks like that’s the case. I was hoping the GM may have more autonomy since there’s so much that needs to be corrected on the HC side of things. Jen is doing her job.
This from Google AI:
In college football, general managers (GMs) typically report to the head coach. The head coach often hires the GM. The head coach has the final say on roster and recruiting decisions. The GM’s role is to evaluate and sign players, and negotiate contracts with players and coaches. The GM also coordinates with donor collectives that pay players. The GM’s role is to free up the head coach’s time so they can focus on tactics and the team.
I guess we can assume Bowden has more skill in these areas than Emerick does, hence the change. Cohen is putting together the infrastructure for a head coach to succeed.
AD Cohen is making all the right moves.This is a great hire. Riley is running out of excuses. While not elite, this is a good roster, and 6-7 wins is not acceptable. Hopefully Bowden will be taking some responsibility away from Riley, and Lincoln can concentrate on coaching! Hope Riley realizes that he has been trying to do to much, and the program has been suffering for it.
Next season should be very revealing.
Agree totally. Bowden is a huge addition, as well as a major subtraction for the Irish.
Killing two birds like that with one stone is a fantastic Trojan football accomplishment, and it’s simply not happening without Jen Cohen’s focus, power and influence.
Jen Cohen Has What It Takes Cohen — “The Trojan Family is thrilled to welcome Chad and his wife Ava to USC,” said Cohen in a statement. “Chad (Bowden) is the perfect fit to help us build and sustain a championship-level football program in the new era of college athletics. His work and expertise will be essential in the construction and management of our roster, the elevation of our robust NIL program and the organization of our entire football operations. Combined with USC’s competitive resources and growing support, adding a general manager of Chad’s caliber and pedigree to our staff… Read more »
Congrats to Jen Cohen and Lincoln Riley! USC Hires Away Notre Dame Football General Manager for Same Role 29-year-old Chad Bowden is headed from South Bend to L.A. Bowden has been Marcus Freeman’s right-hand man since their days together at Cincinnati. He’s the 2024 FootballScoop Player Personnel Director of the Year, presented by AstroTurf and voted to the honor by prior winners. Bowden steadfastly believes in a program built through the high school ranks. He is expected to make approximately $1 million annually, per multiple sources. SI.com — Bowden is the second member of Notre Dame’s program to depart for a… Read more »
With her actions, Jen Cohen is showing us she is committed to getting this program back on top. I really do believe we are not that far off from competing in the playoffs. ✌️
Love the fact we made a home run hire for GM and weakened our rival. This proves Jen Cohen knows what she is doing and wants to get us back to the place we should be.
The culture of both the bears and the division they play in was the big challenge for Caleb. Physical play in both categories are responsible? The black & blue division in the NFL is well known. The bears & Lions always fed the monster playing tough nosed defense and little else. Caleb will never be another Jim McMahon. How quickly can the bears turn itself into a more finesse team with a scrambler QB will be interesting if it’s going to work with Caleb as QB. The last time we saw this attempt was decades ago with Fran Tarkington and… Read more »
Ben Johnson has already indicated he will go to great lengths to develop the Bears running game, especially because QBs benefit so greatly from a complimentary ground attack.
He also took some dreadful smackdowns which reminded me of the one UCLA’s Anthony Barr inflicted on Matt Barkley (below) from behind that knocked him out of the 2012 game.
I clearly give Miller Moss a lot more credit than you do.
Reggie Bush has sued USC, seeking compensation for his name, image and likeness when he played 20 years ago. He even demanded that USC pay his attorney fees.
Now he says he would like to be USC’s future head coach. “I would love to come back and be the head coach of USC at some point and help lead USC to a national championship,”
Just bizarre.
Maybe Reggie can suddenly hitch up as a first-time asst at any level with his old coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas.
Perhaps a phone call to Primetime would do Reggie good!
I believe nothing is out of the realm of possibilities any longer, with all sports.
It saddens me to say, I would not be surprised by Bush being welcomed back.
The NFL called Tom Brady a cheater, TWICE. Now they all want him as their “cool best friend.” They’re even letting him skirt fairness (maybe just the appearance of) rules as an owner/nation mouthpiece for Fox.
Seems money, time and/or the changing of decision makers are the greatest ingredients for hypocrisy.
Raiders hiring former Seahawks/USC HC Pete Carroll as next head coach NFL.com — Las Vegas is bringing in a Super Bowl-winning head coach to lead the Raiders. It’s a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option. The team has informed other head-coaching candidates that Pete Carroll will be hired as the next Raiders head coach, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Friday, per sources. Carroll will return to the sidelines in 2025 following a one-year hiatus. The 73-year-old coach previously spent 14 seasons in Seattle, leading the Seahawks to a win in Super Bowl XLVIII, the only… Read more »
With Bill Bilichek taking the UNC job I was hoping it would wet PC’s appetite coming back to CFB. And if he hadn’t gotten the Vegas gig, he might have given up the hope the NFL was still a possibility for him. But he’s in and probably his last coaching job. Funny, for how long had we heard the Commissioner would never permit Las Vegas to host the Super Bowl but that doesn’t sway CFB having their championship played there. Is everyone crossing their fingers & toes on what’s going to happen on NSD for USC?
I tend to agree. But Pete may surprise us, even though 73 seems a little long in the tooth for the NFL Maybe I’m just “projecting!” But maybe being away from the game for a year has caused him to rethink some of his mistakes as his Seattle gig wound down. That’s what he went through to a much larger extent to retool himself for the Trojans after two lost NFL HC jobs. He seems to have the culture thing down pat though, and this seems to be an area of huge need for the Raiders. The truth is, I’m… Read more »
Pete just wasn’t ready “to go gently into that good night.”
He had lost his fastball at the end of his generally successful Seattle experience and he was pissed that he was let go.
I’m glad he gets another chance to end his coaching career as he wanted. It will be intriguing to see how he does in Vegas as it’s a total rebuild job as I see it, and it’s gonna take a tremendous amount of energy to fix that long-dead franchise.
But if there’s anything that Pete has, it’s energy.
I can already hear 
“We hopped on the phone, and we shared the same excitement for him being the coach here and us be able to grow and go on this journey together,” 
Hubbard & Sample, why couldn’t the BOTs have continued in that path using the leadership DNA of these two to find a clone able & willing to build on the success USC realized up to that point? I don’t remember USC in financial straits so why was Max Nickias necessary? What his leadership did in a short period of time negated what his predessessors accomplished in both academics moving up in national rankings as well as supporting a long tradition in competitive sports. This was such a poor decision putting the greed of fundraising as the priority over a questionable… Read more »
Indeed, USC went for the money in promoting weak-minded glad-hander Max Nikias to the Prez job. We’ve been paying for it ever since.
This next Prez hire is so crucial to USC. Will they get it right, or will the BOTs stumble yet again?
How many long balls did Mahomes throw today? zero. I hope “Long Ball Riley” was watching?
The Trojans football program is one of the best over the years and consistently builds NFL talent. Through the 2023 season, USC has had at least one player play in at least 49 of the 57 Super Bowls. Sam Darnold was on the 49ers roster as a backup for the 2024 Super Bowl which was won by the Chiefs 25-22. With the Eagles (no Trojans on team) headed to the Super Bowl (leading 55-23 over the Commanders with three mins to go), the Trojans will have no players in this year’s New Orleans Super Bowl if the Bills beat the favored… Read more »
Well the Chiefs won and Juju Smith-Schuster is on the team so we’ll have at least one Trojan along with Christian Roland-Wallace.
The Chieferees helped the Chiefs, as usual. Gotta have those T. Swift close ups for the Super Bowl broadcast to bring in the moron, brainless Swiftees demo for the ratings.
PSU’s James Franklin went hard after USC’s D’Anton Lynn but couldn’t get him. ✌
So instead Franklin just convinced the #1 OHIO ST DC, Jim Knowles (a CORNELL grad), to split for Happy Valley.
Knowles has posted four straight top-15 defenses between OHIO ST and OKS.
He will receive 3.1 mil per year according to many sources to become the highest paid DC in college football history.
That’s nearly $1 million more than the 59-year-old was getting from the Buckeyes.
Knowles is from Philly.
Both OU and ND (just lost DC Al Golden to the Bengals) also went after Knowles.
Good 2nd choice
USC players in today’s NFL games (doesn’t include players on injured reserve or the practice squad).
Neither the Philadelphia Eagles nor the Buffalo Bills have any Trojans on their rosters.
Washingon Commanders
CB Kevon Seymour (#38), 6-0, 185, seven years in NFL, played in three games this season
Kansas City Chiefs
CB Chris Roland Wallace (#30), 5-11, 202, made the team as a FA this season, his first
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (#9), 6-1, 215, eight years in the NFL, 2018 Pro Bowl selection
Many say both the NFL and college football have become a younger man’s game.
So much time, energy, and constant focus is required at each level of ball, especially with the professionalization of the college game.
But don’t tell that to the Raiders, who just invested in 73-year-old Pete Carrol, now the official elderly statesman of the League. Or the Chiefs, who are looking for their record-breaking 3rd-straight Super Bowl win under 66-year-old Andy Reid. Or the North Carolina Tar Heels, who just scooped up 72-year-old Bill Belichick from the Patriots’ dustbin.
There will always be those “outliers.”
Andy Reid’s playbook is sick
This outcome was never truly in doubt. It’s just what the Chiefs do.
And the Chieferees help, too!
If I ever have to watch Josh Allen lamely try to push through or leap over his left guard again for a yard, I’ll scream. That was literally and bizarrely the Bills’ entire game plan in crucial 4th and short situations, and Allen got stuffed more times than a Xmas turkey. Oh, and the Chiefs knew what was coming, every time. Like many, I was heartily rooting for the Bills to break the super-coached Chiefs and get into the Super Bowl. But the refs didn’t lose this game for the Bills. Their playcalling was totally pedestrian compared to Andy Reid’s.… Read more »
This ! KC had short yardage, they ran beautiful boots with Mahomes.
Meanwhile, as you mentioned, Bills forced their athletic 6’5 240lb into a 21 man pile.
Hope Reid puts up 50 vs Philly.
The Chiefs have become the team America likes to hate a little because they win so much and underdogs are easy to root for. I watched the replays on the two most critical calls of the game about ten times each it seemed (these reviews take way too long!) and I still don’t know which way the calls should have gone. Flipping a coin seemed as accurate as any resolution to me. It makes one wonder how many important missed calls there were before replay that we never had the opportunity to get all riled up about. All I know… Read more »
Chad Bowden will report to Athletic Director Jen Cohen. He’s an equal to the sly deceiver Lincoln Riley. Riley is being watched like a red headed stepchild caught stealing lunch money. If he intends to keep playing the few songs in his football jukebox, he’ll get slapped to sleep, and then slapped some more for sleeping. Disregard Riley’s welcome of Chad Bowden. Heritage Hall would be wise to install an odometer on Lincoln Riley’s lips. If they’re moving, he’s lying, again. He’s got those 20 USC football plays in that little pad he carries. He’s flashy as a rat with… Read more »
LR running his mouth about retiring early last year … good move clown
👌11-12 since then
just quit and give the job to real pro Lynn
I’m not a lawyer so my comments on this subject may not make a lot of sense. But I don’t see why they can’t just have the NFL allow players to enter its ranks right after High School(like basketball) and then say that college sports are for students so if you want to play for money then go pro. Otherwise, if you are good enough some college will give you a scholarship to go to college and also play football. The way the system is now, what is there to keep high school players from saying that they want part… Read more »
From a human development stand point, I doubt few if any 18 year olds are big enough and strong enough to make it in the NFL. While 18 is the average, some men may experience minor growth spurts into their early 20s. College football is the minor leagues for the NFL while also serving as an opportunity for higher education. The NFL doesn’t have to fund any of it and gets game ready 20-22 year olds.
I agree that most 18 year olds are not big enough or strong enough. Then let them play in the United Football League or one of those leagues they have in the summer or go to college and play college ball until they are ready to go pros but no money until they get to the pros.Really, college is for education. They should not be able to destroy the college game.
I can imagine NFL owners see what the NBA owners have to go through dealing with teenagers in a man’s World and don’t want any part of it. They may have studied the MLB minor league system as a precaution if the future ever lead to complete freedom of choice for HS athletes to ponder and the ramifications. But if I were the NFL, I would do everything possible to keep CFB solvent enough not to begin dismissing itself from higher education responsibility. The problem I see is NFL ownership is made up a lot of 80+ yr olds who… Read more »
OSU was probably the best team money can buy and…..surprise, surprise….they won. They have to do something. This is going to destroy the college game.
SC is spending a lot of money on the football program so they must be serious about bringing back the glory
Yeah, no worries the new president will be anti football. Too much invested in the program.
Is there a Black Jack Hubbard jr! Get a prez that takes his football seriously
Hubbard was great. His daughter, the one I became acquainted with, was terrific too.
I have his signature on my undergrad diploma…. I think Steve Sample was on my dental diploma.
LAT — Hubbard, who was an expert on British diplomatic history and U.S.-India ties, continued to teach part-time at USC until he was 91, even if it meant sometimes leaning on a walker. “He was a strong, tough Texan, no question about it,” said friend John Callaghan, a USC associate professor of kinesiology, who also recalled Hubbard as a first-rate scholar with a global perspective. “He really knew a tremendous amount about the growth of the British Empire, its stability and its eventual decline,” Callaghan said.
Black Jack was a terror on the SC sidelines … actually got a 15 yd unsportsmanlike penalty at Hawaii in 1978. John Robinson was ticked and said ‘who was it on!’ … ref said ‘ your school president’
Didn’t Hubbard have a little too much booze once while on the sidelines? I seem to remember something about that but maybe I’m incorrect.
But I know Hubbard treasured USC football. Of course, there was an awful lot to treasure back then.
Who does Bowden report to ?
I would presume he reports to LR. After all, he is the HC.
But if I were Bowden, I wouldn’t take any big-time job unless I had enough autonomy and input to make myself something more way more than a simple yes man.
Bowden was hired by Cohen, who is certainly no shrinking violet, because LR needs his help to succeed at USC. I would expect LR to listen to his advice. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of money and talent, and the need to finally repair USC football is ignored.
Looks like that’s the case. I was hoping the GM may have more autonomy since there’s so much that needs to be corrected on the HC side of things. Jen is doing her job.
This from Google AI:
In college football, general managers (GMs) typically report to the head coach. The head coach often hires the GM. The head coach has the final say on roster and recruiting decisions. The GM’s role is to evaluate and sign players, and negotiate contracts with players and coaches. The GM also coordinates with donor collectives that pay players. The GM’s role is to free up the head coach’s time so they can focus on tactics and the team.
I guess we can assume Bowden has more skill in these areas than Emerick does, hence the change. Cohen is putting together the infrastructure for a head coach to succeed.
Thanks !
Can they hire someone to teach LR tactics and clock management? That would be money well spent.
LR play calling in final minutes cost USC all 6 losses … JC couldn’t spilt 6 of those
Was it always play calling or some of it execution?
play calling … no margin for error with non competitor MM
AD Cohen is making all the right moves.This is a great hire. Riley is running out of excuses. While not elite, this is a good roster, and 6-7 wins is not acceptable. Hopefully Bowden will be taking some responsibility away from Riley, and Lincoln can concentrate on coaching! Hope Riley realizes that he has been trying to do to much, and the program has been suffering for it.
Next season should be very revealing.
Agree totally. Bowden is a huge addition, as well as a major subtraction for the Irish.
Killing two birds like that with one stone is a fantastic Trojan football accomplishment, and it’s simply not happening without Jen Cohen’s focus, power and influence.
We still have a HC with a flawed philosophy for offense. That’s the biggest change that needs to happen.
It took Ryan Day and Kirby Smart 6 years to win a NC. It took Harbaugh 9 years. So whats the rush?😁
At this point just want to win a road game
Ha, good point.
Jen Cohen Has What It Takes Cohen — “The Trojan Family is thrilled to welcome Chad and his wife Ava to USC,” said Cohen in a statement. “Chad (Bowden) is the perfect fit to help us build and sustain a championship-level football program in the new era of college athletics. His work and expertise will be essential in the construction and management of our roster, the elevation of our robust NIL program and the organization of our entire football operations. Combined with USC’s competitive resources and growing support, adding a general manager of Chad’s caliber and pedigree to our staff… Read more »
Congrats to Jen Cohen and Lincoln Riley! USC Hires Away Notre Dame Football General Manager for Same Role 29-year-old Chad Bowden is headed from South Bend to L.A. Bowden has been Marcus Freeman’s right-hand man since their days together at Cincinnati. He’s the 2024 FootballScoop Player Personnel Director of the Year, presented by AstroTurf and voted to the honor by prior winners. Bowden steadfastly believes in a program built through the high school ranks. He is expected to make approximately $1 million annually, per multiple sources. SI.com — Bowden is the second member of Notre Dame’s program to depart for a… Read more »
With her actions, Jen Cohen is showing us she is committed to getting this program back on top. I really do believe we are not that far off from competing in the playoffs. ✌️
Love the fact we made a home run hire for GM and weakened our rival. This proves Jen Cohen knows what she is doing and wants to get us back to the place we should be.
I wonder if JC told Bowden that LR is a dead man walking. Hang in there one year and we will have a real HC.
probably
J.D. PicKell
@jdpickell
It took Ryan Day and Kirby Smart the same number of seasons to win their first national title as a head coach.
The culture of both the bears and the division they play in was the big challenge for Caleb. Physical play in both categories are responsible? The black & blue division in the NFL is well known. The bears & Lions always fed the monster playing tough nosed defense and little else. Caleb will never be another Jim McMahon. How quickly can the bears turn itself into a more finesse team with a scrambler QB will be interesting if it’s going to work with Caleb as QB. The last time we saw this attempt was decades ago with Fran Tarkington and… Read more »
Ben Johnson has already indicated he will go to great lengths to develop the Bears running game, especially because QBs benefit so greatly from a complimentary ground attack.
What?! I never heard of such an idea! 😉
Those Bears better get some O line that can block.
Same for USC. Just ask Miller Moss and Jayden Maiava. Moss is lucky he wasn’t seriously injured.
Still no moves on higher level linemen…..same old soup.
MM wasn’t cut out for this level of football … he flopped a lot
He also took some dreadful smackdowns which reminded me of the one UCLA’s Anthony Barr inflicted on Matt Barkley (below) from behind that knocked him out of the 2012 game.
I clearly give Miller Moss a lot more credit than you do.
Barkley goes down
Bring it West!
The Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium was named Friday as the host venue for the 2026 CFB Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 25, 2027.
That game will mark the first time the CFP title game has been held in Las Vegas
Reggie Bush has sued USC, seeking compensation for his name, image and likeness when he played 20 years ago. He even demanded that USC pay his attorney fees.
Now he says he would like to be USC’s future head coach. “I would love to come back and be the head coach of USC at some point and help lead USC to a national championship,”
Just bizarre.
Maybe Reggie can suddenly hitch up as a first-time asst at any level with his old coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas.
Perhaps a phone call to Primetime would do Reggie good!
Is he listening to himself??
I believe nothing is out of the realm of possibilities any longer, with all sports.
It saddens me to say, I would not be surprised by Bush being welcomed back.
The NFL called Tom Brady a cheater, TWICE. Now they all want him as their “cool best friend.” They’re even letting him skirt fairness (maybe just the appearance of) rules as an owner/nation mouthpiece for Fox.
Seems money, time and/or the changing of decision makers are the greatest ingredients for hypocrisy.
Or maybe it’s just cynicism and old age.
Go away Reggie. Let’s just call it square and say goodbye.
I read that and couldn’t believe it. Did Reggie actually go to any classes while at USC? Because he appears to be as dumb as a bag of rocks.
Raiders hiring former Seahawks/USC HC Pete Carroll as next head coach NFL.com — Las Vegas is bringing in a Super Bowl-winning head coach to lead the Raiders. It’s a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option. The team has informed other head-coaching candidates that Pete Carroll will be hired as the next Raiders head coach, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Friday, per sources. Carroll will return to the sidelines in 2025 following a one-year hiatus. The 73-year-old coach previously spent 14 seasons in Seattle, leading the Seahawks to a win in Super Bowl XLVIII, the only… Read more »
With Bill Bilichek taking the UNC job I was hoping it would wet PC’s appetite coming back to CFB. And if he hadn’t gotten the Vegas gig, he might have given up the hope the NFL was still a possibility for him. But he’s in and probably his last coaching job. Funny, for how long had we heard the Commissioner would never permit Las Vegas to host the Super Bowl but that doesn’t sway CFB having their championship played there. Is everyone crossing their fingers & toes on what’s going to happen on NSD for USC?
Belichick only took the UNC job because he was forced to. The NFL completely turned its back on him.
Carroll nailed what Belichick would have loved to get.
He’ll attract a lot of good players until they find out that this guy is not a great coach
and nothing but a sick pervert … him and Bob Kraft are on the Epstein list
I’m a PC fan but I really think that he is too old. But I still hope he wins big.
I tend to agree. But Pete may surprise us, even though 73 seems a little long in the tooth for the NFL Maybe I’m just “projecting!” But maybe being away from the game for a year has caused him to rethink some of his mistakes as his Seattle gig wound down. That’s what he went through to a much larger extent to retool himself for the Trojans after two lost NFL HC jobs. He seems to have the culture thing down pat though, and this seems to be an area of huge need for the Raiders. The truth is, I’m… Read more »
Sounds like you’re describing Trump……he’s old but he still has a non-stop motor and he’s had 4 years to think about his mistakes.
Good…..hope the old man has one last run.
Pete just wasn’t ready “to go gently into that good night.”
He had lost his fastball at the end of his generally successful Seattle experience and he was pissed that he was let go.
I’m glad he gets another chance to end his coaching career as he wanted. It will be intriguing to see how he does in Vegas as it’s a total rebuild job as I see it, and it’s gonna take a tremendous amount of energy to fix that long-dead franchise.
But if there’s anything that Pete has, it’s energy.