On January 21, the Chicago Bears officially announced the hiring of Ben Johnson as their new head coach. Johnson, who spent the last few seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, brings a ton of experience and a fresh perspective to the storied franchise. Renowned across the league for his innovative play calls and vast array of motions, he has consistently posed significant challenges for opposing defenses. He’s a crucial asset for a team who is eager to revitalize its offensive attack and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Following a difficult 2024 season and the departure of former head coach Matt Eberflus, the Bears have been in search of a coach who can lead them back to success. The hope is that Johnson can inject new life and flare into their offense scheme, utilizing former number one overall pick Caleb Williams. With this change, Chicago has made it very clear that they intend to return to the playoffs and restore their once dominant franchise.
At just 38 years old, Johnson quickly rose through the coaching ranks of the National Football League. Following his playing career at UNC Chapel Hill, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boston College, eventually getting promoted to tight ends coach in 2011. Johnson served as an assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins for the next seven seasons, where he worked with tight ends, wide receivers, and quarterbacks until 2018.
After his time in Miami, he joined the Lions as their quarterbacks coach in 2019. In 2022, Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator, where his impact was immediately felt, most notably in the development of quarterback Jared Goff. Goff was traded to the league’s worst team in exchange for future Hall of Famer Matthew Stafford, who went on to win a Super Bowl not even 11 months after the trade. He was an afterthought in everybody’s eyes, but under Ben Johnson’s leadership, Goff was able to elevate his game and become one of the most consistent passers in the league. With Johnson’s promotion, the Lions’ offense improved from the 22nd best offense in 2021 to third in just his first year as the Offensive Coordinator, catapulting Johnson into the spotlight as one of the league’s most sought-after coaching prospects. He has also earned a reputation for helping young quarterbacks slow the game down and increase their ability to perform at the highest level.
With Caleb Williams entering year two in the NFL, Johnson’s expertise could prove pivotal in shaping the young signal-caller to fulfill his increasing expectations. While the road ahead is not all sunshine and rainbows, the hiring of Ben Johnson shows the Bears’ willingness to adapt with the times and turn to a more modern approach to football. The Bears hope to replicate what the Eagles, Niners, and Chiefs have done the last decade—roster construction and building a team that has the depth to compete for Lombardi Trophies.
