Ben Johnson
Head Coach — Chicago Bears
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About Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson was the most coveted coaching candidate in football before the Bears finally got him. As offensive coordinator in Detroit, he turned the Lions into a top-five scoring offense and made Jared Goff look like a franchise quarterback, which is the coaching equivalent of turning water into wine. Every team in the NFL wanted him. The Bears won the sweepstakes, and Chicago immediately treated him like a conquering hero arriving to save a franchise that hadn't had a competent offense since the Cutler years. His introductory press conference had the energy of a papal coronation.
The Johnson hire represents the first time in recent memory that Bears fans felt genuine optimism about the offensive side of the ball. He inherited Caleb Williams and a roster that Poles had been stockpiling weapons for, and the 2025 season was the payoff: a record-breaking year for the offense that had Bears fans posting "I can't believe we have a real offense" like they'd just discovered electricity. The Detroit connection fuels half the memes. Lions fans are heartbroken. Bears fans are thrilled. And Johnson sits in the middle of it, calmly drawing up plays on a whiteboard while two fanbases fight over who deserves him more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Bears fans so excited about the Ben Johnson hire?
Because the Bears have been historically terrible on offense for decades. Chicago is a defense-and-running-game town that hasn't had a legitimate offensive identity since before most current fans were born. Johnson was the hottest coordinator in football, every team wanted him, and the Bears actually landed him. For a franchise that usually watches other teams hire the exciting candidates, getting Johnson felt like a franchise-altering moment.
Last updated: April 2026