Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson becomes one of NFL’s youngest head coaches. Find out his ranking
Ben Johnson, the newly appointed head coach of the Chicago Bears, is among the youngest offensive specialists to land a head coaching position in the NFL prior to turning 40. This reflects a notable pattern in the hiring practices of NFL team owners.
On Wednesday, the Bears officially announced Johnson, who is 38 years old, as their new head coach. He now ranks as the second-youngest head coach in the NFL, following Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks, who was hired last season. Johnson is also the 14th coach in his 30s to be appointed as an NFL head coach in the last five years—most of whom share a background in offensive coaching, similar to Johnson.
Recent statistics from YSL News Sports indicate that in the past five years, over one-third of head coaching openings in the NFL have been filled by candidates in their 30s, leading to a decrease in the average age of head coaches in the league.
This pattern has been nicknamed the “Sean McVay Effect,” named after the successful head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, who was hired at the age of 30. Notably, even though McVay is entering his ninth season as head coach, he is only four months older than Johnson.
What is Ben Johnson’s coaching background?
Ben Johnson began as a walk-on quarterback at the University of North Carolina. After spending several years coaching at Boston College, he landed his first NFL position in 2012 when the Miami Dolphins brought him on board as an offensive assistant at the age of 26.
He quickly moved up to a position coach and remained with the team despite a coaching change. In 2019, Johnson transitioned to the Detroit Lions, where he advanced to the roles of tight ends coach, passing game coordinator, and ultimately offensive coordinator.
Is Ben Johnson the youngest head coach in the NFL?
No, Johnson is currently the second-youngest head coach in the league, trailing behind Macdonald.
At the time of Johnson’s hiring, five teams still had head coaching positions available: the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets. The only other head coach appointed this month was Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots, who is 49 years old.
Who are the youngest head coaches in the NFL?
Below is a list of the 10 youngest head coaches in the NFL as of January 2025:
- Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks (37 years, 6 months)
- Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears (38 years, 8 months)
- Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams (38 years, 11 months)
- Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings (39 years, 7 months)
- Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts (39 years, 8 months)
- DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans (40 years, 5 months)
- Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans (40 years, 7 months)
- Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals (41 years, 8 months)
- Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins (41 years, 10 months)
- Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals (42 years old)
