The NFC North was a powerhouse this season. The Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions. Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings combined for a record of 45-23 with three of those teams making the playoffs in 2024.
As with most NFL offseasons, changes will happen. The Vikings are expected to make some roster adjustments but hope to keep their coaches intact despite the many openings available for advancement.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores, senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, and others may get opportunities outside of Minnesota. One thing that seems certain is that the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears will look different in 2025.
Vikings path to NFC North dominance just got easier after recent news
According to a recent report from Tom Pelissero, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to finalize a deal with the Chicago Bears to become their head coach once he arrives in the windy city.
A new day in Chicago: The #Bears are finalizing a deal to hire Ben Johnson as their head coach, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 20, 2025
Johnson is set to fly there soon and contract parameters are in place. Barring a last-minute snag, the #Lions OC lands with an NFC North rival. pic.twitter.com/Y1i4lRtpw5
Johnson is a highly creative offensive mind and could be a huge boost for the young Bears' offense. Meanwhile, his departure from the Lions could have a massive impact on a team that was an offensive juggernaut in 2024.
Detroit had the No. 2 offense in the NFL last season. Their 6,962 yards were second to only the Baltimore Ravens at 7,224. They also had the No. 2 passing offense, throwing for more yards than every team except the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Lions were known for having some excellent trick plays and coming out with great gameplans, even against tough defenses. It will be interesting to see if he can bring that kind of excitement and efficiency to Chicago in 2025.
Ben Johnson's exit from Detroit will create a vacancy in their coaching staff that could be hard to fill. The Lions' former offensive coordinator was expected to be one of the most widely pursued coaches on the market and it isn't a surprise that he was hired so quickly after his team's exit from the postseason.
The change in Detroit could help to make the NFC North a little less competitive at the top. In 2024, it took 15 victories to win the division. With the changes coming to the NFC North this offseason, that bar could be lowered in 2025.
Of course, it is still very early in the offseason. More changes could shake up the Minnesota Vikings and the NFC North in unexpected ways. At least for now, one huge asset the Detroit Lions had to use against the purple and gold will be with another team.