Zac Taylor Once Tried to Bring Ben Johnson to Cincinnati - Even on Defense
In the world of NFL coaching, connections run deep, and sometimes the most intriguing "what ifs" come from the sidelines, not the field. One of those stories recently resurfaced - a fascinating nugget involving Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and current Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
During an appearance on 670 The Score, Bears insider Brad Biggs shared a story that pulls back the curtain on just how highly Taylor regarded Johnson - so much so that he reportedly tried multiple times to bring him to Cincinnati. Not as an offensive assistant, where Johnson has made his name, but on the defensive side of the ball.
"Taylor's toyed with the idea here at least 20 times of trying to bring Ben in on my staff in Cincinnati as a defensive position coach," Biggs said, recounting a past conversation with Taylor. "He was looking for any way he could to get Ben in the building because he had such high regard for him as a coach and knew that anything he was tasked with he would do at a super high level."
Let’s pause on that for a second: Zac Taylor, the Bengals’ offensive architect and playcaller since 2019, was so impressed with Johnson’s coaching acumen that he was willing to slot him into a defensive role - just to get him in the building. That’s not something you hear every day, especially in a league where coaching trees and specialization are so entrenched.
From Offensive Whiz to Head Coach
Of course, Johnson never made it to Cincinnati. Instead, he stayed on the offensive side of the ball and found his breakout moment in Detroit.
After being named the Lions’ offensive coordinator in 2022, Johnson quickly turned heads by orchestrating one of the league’s most efficient and creative offenses. Under his guidance, Jared Goff experienced a career resurgence, and the Lions became a legitimate contender.
Johnson’s stock soared during the 2023 coaching cycle, and while several teams came calling, he chose to stay in Detroit for one more run. That decision paid off - the Lions lost just two games in the regular season and were dominant offensively, a direct reflection of Johnson’s playcalling and scheme design.
After Detroit’s playoff run ended in the divisional round against Washington, Johnson officially hit the head coaching market - and this time, he was ready to make the leap. The Bears landed him, and so far, that decision looks like a home run. Not only are the Bears leading the NFC North, but they currently sit atop the entire NFC playoff picture.
Taylor Saw It Early
What makes Taylor’s interest in Johnson all the more compelling is the timing. According to Biggs, this wasn’t a recent revelation.
The conversation with Taylor took place back in January - before Johnson had coached a single game as a head coach. This wasn’t about jumping on the bandwagon.
Taylor saw something in Johnson long before the rest of the league fully caught on.
It does raise an interesting hypothetical: what if Taylor had considered Johnson for a role on the Bengals’ offensive staff instead of just defense? That might have required Taylor to give up playcalling duties - something he’s held onto since taking the job in 2019.
But pairing Johnson’s offensive mind with Joe Burrow’s talent? That’s a duo that could’ve lit up the AFC.
Still, even if Johnson had accepted a defensive coaching role, it’s fair to wonder how he might have adapted. The guy clearly knows football, period.
He’s shown he’s not just a playcaller - he’s a leader, a teacher, and a program-builder. It’s not hard to imagine him thriving in any role he was given, even one outside his natural lane.
The Right Fit at the Right Time
In the end, everything worked out the way it was supposed to. Johnson spent three impactful seasons as Detroit’s offensive coordinator and is now leading a Bears team that looks revitalized under his leadership. At just 39 years old, he’s already showing why he was one of the most sought-after minds in the NFL.
And Taylor? His instincts were spot-on.
He saw Johnson’s potential early and tried to bring him into the fold - even if it meant thinking outside the box. It didn’t happen, but it’s a reminder of how much respect Johnson commands in coaching circles.
Sometimes, the best moves are the ones that never happened - not because they failed, but because they show just how close the NFL world really is behind the scenes.