NEW ORLEANS — Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked on Thursday to name his biggest rivals as a play-caller.
He listed three people — and one of them is the new Bears’ head coach.
Reid started with the challenge he’s facing in Sunday’s Super Bowl in Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who held the same job with the Bears 2015-18.
Reid then cited former Patriots great Bill Belichick, who ranks in third place, one spot ahead of him on the NFL’s all-time victories list for head coaches.
And then he listed Ben Johnson, though he never said his name.
“This guy we’re playing this week is a pretty good defensive coordinator,” he said. “I feel like I can’t get rid of him. It seems like every year, once or twice or three times, he’s there. He does a great job. I always say Bill Belichick is probably the best coach I’ve had a chance to go against in my career as a head coach.
“And then I’ve enjoyed watching the Lions this year and the job their offensive coordinator did there. He’s now the head coach in Chicago.”
The Bears hired Johnson after he spent three seasons as the Lions as their play-caller. They interviewed 17 candidates, including former Bears player and assistant coach Ron Rivera. On Thursday, Rivera said that the Bears’ landed the coach they wanted.
“They ran a first-class interview,” said Rivera, who was one of two coaches to interview in-person at Halas Hall. “It was well done. I thought [general manager] Ryan Poles did a nice job doing that whole thing handling it. I thought [president/CEO] Kevin Warren was stoic, listening, interjecting at the right times. And what needed to happen happened the right way. I thought that was important.
“I think they got their guy.”