Naming His Play-calling Rivals, Andy Reid Lists Bill Belichick, Vic Fangio — And The Bears' Ben Johnson

NEW ORLEANS — Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked Thursday to name his biggest play-calling rivals.

He listed three — and one is the Bears’ new coach.

Reid started his list with the challenger he’s facing Sunday in the Super Bowl: Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who held the same job with the Bears from 2015 to 2018.

Reid went on to cite former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who’s in third place, one spot ahead of him, on the NFL’s all-time list of winningest coaches.

And then he mentioned Ben Johnson but 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 with the Lions as their play-caller. They interviewed 17 candidates, including former Bears player and assistant coach Ron Rivera. On Thursday, Rivera said 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.”