Detroit’s Dan Campbell, Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur all have more head-coaching experience than the Bears’ brand-new guy, Ben Johnson. That’s obvious.
But in this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, we asked which of those NFC North coaches you’d poach if you were starting a team — and Johnson was the top vote getter.
“Typical Chicago,” @revot14 commented about that. “A guy has not coached a game and he’s Vince Lombardi.”
As @DeyoSahler pointed out, it was Campbell, Johnson’s former boss, who “took an expansion-caliber team and turned it into a contender within three years.”
Next, we asked you to grade Cubs manager Craig Counsell for his performance this season. Considering how awful the Cubs have been since the All-Star break, Counsell won’t be in the running for valedictorian.
“You can’t put much blame on him,” @Joe2936P wrote. “I don’t see him standing in the batter’s box.”
Last, we wanted to know if you’re buying that White Sox rookie infielder Colson Montgomery is the real deal.
“As sold on Montgomery as on Andrew Vaughn turning into a star in the same stretch,” @RonaldVoigt4 cautioned. “We’ll see.”
On to the polls:
Poll No. 1: If you were starting an NFL team and could poach a head coach from the NFC North, who’d be your guy?
It’s time for this week’s “Polling Place.” Let us hear from you! Selected comments will appear in Sunday's paper.
Poll No. 1: If you were starting an NFL team and could poach a head coach from the NFC North, who’d be your guy?
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) August 14, 2025
Upshot: Johnson, eh? You wacky bunch of homers, you.
Poll No. 2: Give Craig Counsell a grade for his performance in his second season as Cubs manager?
Poll No. 2: Give Craig Counsell a grade for his performance in his second season as Cubs manager.
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) August 14, 2025
Upshot: Fall out of the wild-card picture, and we’re going to need something lower than an “F.”
Poll No. 3: How sold are you on White Sox rookie Colson Montgomery after his recent stretch of 10 home runs in 18 games?
Poll No. 3: How sold are you on White Sox rookie Colson Montgomery after his recent stretch of 10 home runs in 18 games?
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) August 14, 2025
Upshot: Can Sox fans have nice things? Asking for a few million friends.