The Chicago Bears are coming off their best season in nearly a decade - a division title, a playoff run, and a clear sign that Ben Johnson’s culture shift is taking hold. But success in the NFL comes with a cost.
When you start winning, other teams start circling, looking to poach the people who helped make it happen. That’s exactly what’s happening in Chicago right now.
The Bears are now in the market for a new offensive coordinator after Declan Doyle accepted the same role with the Baltimore Ravens. It’s a significant loss - Doyle played a key role in the Bears’ offensive resurgence - and it leaves Johnson with a major decision to make as he preps for 2026. But it also opens the door for a little bit of NFC North drama.
There’s a name floating around that might sound familiar to Lions fans: Hank Fraley.
Now, before we get to Fraley, it’s worth noting that Johnson’s reported top choice to replace Doyle was Drew Petzing - the same Drew Petzing who just landed in Detroit as the Lions’ new offensive coordinator. Petzing and Johnson go way back to their days at Boston College, and their offensive philosophies line up almost perfectly.
Both are aggressive play-callers, both love to run the ball with purpose, and both know how to get the most out of tight ends. On paper, it would’ve been a seamless transition.
To add another layer, Petzing was even a groomsman in Johnson’s wedding - so yeah, the connection runs deep. But with Petzing now wearing Honolulu blue, that option’s off the table.
Enter Hank Fraley.
Fraley and Johnson have their own history. The two arrived in Detroit just a year apart - Fraley in 2018, Johnson in 2019 - and climbed the coaching ranks together.
Fraley became the Lions’ offensive line coach in 2020, while Johnson took over as offensive coordinator in 2022. They’ve spent years building one of the toughest, most cohesive offensive units in the league.
Johnson already tried to bring Fraley with him to Chicago last offseason, but the Lions countered with a raise to keep him in Detroit. That worked - for a year. Now, with the Bears’ OC job wide open, the door could be open again.
And this time, there may not be much stopping Fraley from taking the interview.
If Johnson does make the move, it wouldn’t just be about filling a key position - it would also be a calculated strike at a division rival. The Lions just lost the NFC North crown to the Bears after two straight years on top, and their offensive line has been a cornerstone of their identity under Dan Campbell. Losing Fraley, the architect of that unit, would be a serious blow.
It’s the kind of chess move that coaches make all the time in the NFL. Relationships matter.
Timing matters. And when you’ve got a chance to strengthen your own staff while weakening a rival’s, you take it.
For now, nothing’s official. But don’t be surprised if Ben Johnson picks up the phone and calls an old friend - one who knows the NFC North inside and out, and who just might be ready for the next step.
The Bears are building something, and if Fraley joins the mix, it could be another sign that Johnson isn’t just trying to win - he’s trying to dominate.