Ben Johnson's ego costs him a shot at NFL history with Bears

Ben Johnson has avoided joining an elite list of NFL coaches, per Ben Solak of ESPN. The Chicago Bears head coach could have become just the fourth coach in league history to win three of his first four games with three different quarterbacks, joining Tom Coughlin, Al Saunders, and Don Shula.

He didn't make that list, Solak wrote, "if not for the fact that he got smarmy and made Case Keenum, not Tyson Bagent, the starting quarterback in Week 4 by giving Keenum the first snap from under center … and then played Bagent the rest of the game." Keenum took that first snap against the New York Jets last Sunday before Bagent came in for the rest of the game.

Solak added that Johnson "wanted to make a point after it was reported this week that Bagent was the Week 4 starter before Johnson had announced his selection." That report that Bagent was the starter before Johnson's announcement has not been confirmed by the team.

With Caleb Williams still battling a hamstring injury, Johnson has relied on his backups. Keenum started in Week 3 and Bagent in Week 4, and both delivered wins.

THE WEEK 4 QUARTERBACK DECISION

Keenum took the snap, and then Bagent took over for the rest of the game. Bagent completed 25 of 34 pass attempts for 268 yards in the 23-12 win over the Jets.

The decision to give Keenum that first snap is what kept Johnson off the exclusive list, per Solak. But the reason behind it is not confirmed; Solak's interpretation that Johnson "got smarmy" is his opinion, not a team statement.

The Bears' quarterback situation remains fluid. Williams is still battling a hamstring injury, and Johnson confirmed that Bagent will start at quarterback against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.

BACKUP QUARTERBACK SUCCESS