CHICAGO — Ben Johnson launched into his virtual interview with the Chicago Bears, leaving no doubt about his intentions.
“I want this job,” Johnson said, President George McCaskey recalled.
The feeling was mutual and the Bears agreed to terms with Johnson on Monday. On Tuesday, general manager Ryan Poles and his wife Katie flew to Michigan and returned with Johnson, his wife Jessica and their three children.
Johnson was introduced Wednesday at Halas Hall, ushering in a new era for the NFL’s cornerstone franchise, with the Bears looking for stability, leadership, offensive ingenuity and someone who can get them back to winning ways.
It’s unclear how Johnson, 38, will fare as a first-time head coach. The job brings more responsibility than he’s ever had and will present situations he never imagined. The visionary behind the Detroit Lions offense, who led the NFL in scoring the previous three seasons, will be tasked with devising a plan around quarterback Caleb Williams, who flew in from California for the press conference, and to bring increased levels of discipline. and responsibility towards the locker room.
It’s a daunting task and far more coordinators-turned-head coaches have failed than succeeded. But Johnson insisted the bones in place are good enough for the Bears to get there sooner rather than later.
“This roster is already loaded with talent,” Johnson said.
No matter how you stack up the Bears’ skills, they finished last in the NFC North with a 5-12 record after suffering a 10-game losing streak, and Johnson knows exactly how tough the division is after six years with the Lions.
“At the beginning of this season, I felt like this place was a sleeping giant,” he said Wednesday. “To be honest with you, personally, I was more concerned about the Bears than anyone in this division. There are a number of reasons why this hasn’t happened, which is why I’m here.
“I’m going to get to the bottom of this. And we’ll see if we can’t be corrected and cleaned up. But I was very encouraged by what was already on the list here. Like I said before, this division, as tough as it is, is really excited to compete here.
The Poles said it could be taken both ways.
“It’s great. It’s also frustrating because of what happened,” the general manager said. “It’s good because he has a vision for the players we have on the roster and also, with the two of us, let’s think together, about the direction we’re going to take.”
Johnson’s marriage to the Bears was the result of timing, one of the things the Bears have lacked in recent decades. Johnson wasn’t just the flavor of the month, he was a hot candidate in 2024, but he portrayed a rare kind of self-awareness in admitting that he might not be ready for the job at a time when he was considered the leading candidate. for the Washington Commanders, who ousted the Lions from the playoffs last week.
That’s precisely what a senior club official who interviewed Johnson during a previous recruiting cycle described, saying Johnson possessed high “emotional intelligence.” Johnson spent time last spring and summer mentally preparing for what the head coaching job might entail to feel comfortable taking the plunge.
Finding someone who can be extremely self-aware while also being extremely confident says a lot about the person. Johnson’s delivery came across as authentic and sounded as if, yes, he could really be prepared for this opportunity after coming up through the ranks from a quality control assistant, to a position coach, back down to a QC coach , then climb the ladder. Dan Campbell’s team in Detroit.
“I was the best in every role, as far as I was concerned,” Johnson said. “That’s how I see it, point blank. I didn’t take any shortcuts. I wasn’t a former player who could accelerate through it. I have come a long way. I took the difficult path. I didn’t have a famous last name or a father who brought me to where I am today. I had to work at it and I also failed along the way and somehow I was able to, even though I was on the street and had to hit the reset button and come back from the ashes, I found a way to do it.
“A lot of things must have worked in my favor along the way. I’ve been around a lot of amazing people that I’ll always be grateful for, but yes, I’m not lacking in self-confidence. Our players will feel it.
Johnson’s reference to returning to the company was about being on Adam Gase’s staff who was fired in Miami after the 2018 season.
“We had just had our second child (son Kennedy),” Johnson said. “Which really should have been the best time of my life because I was still getting paid to live in a phenomenal climate with two young children. I could have immersed myself as a father and husband in a profession where that rarely happens.
“Honestly, I was in my darkest moment because something I loved was taken away from me. I put in all my time and effort for seven years (with the Dolphins), three more at Boston College, and when something like that is ripped away from you, it makes you search deep in your soul.
Johnson went through that hiring cycle without finding a job and it didn’t materialize until the start of the 2019 regular season, when then-Lions coach Matt Patricia hired him , an unusual time to jump into an NFL gig.
“It’s a little humbling to have to step back and start over and become a quality control coach, but you just trust, you put your head down and you work, and luckily good things have happened,” Johnson said .
He believes he has more depth to him than just an offensive wizard, a play designer who always pushes the boundaries in terms of creativity but is rooted in fundamentals and details – the smallest details. This will be necessary for a job that requires much more.
“Look, it’s no secret that I was described as an offensive guru,” he said. “Whether I’ve been a quality controller, a job coach, a coordinator, I’m everything that the job requires of me and so that’s where I really wanted to let these people know at each (interview) that there had perhaps more substance than I had expressed in any interview. media session or what you might see on the sidelines.
“There’s a lot more to do and I’m really excited about this next challenge because it will be a little different for me. Honestly, it’s also going to take me out of my comfort zone, but I felt like I was really able to articulate what the vision would be, have a plan of attack and pursue it.
Johnson wants the players, the ones he will begin working with this spring, to feel the same way.
“I have a message here for the players,” he said. “’Be comfortable being uncomfortable.’ The bar has been set higher than it has ever been before. The only way for this team, and for you as individual players, to reach your potential, is to be pushed and challenged, and that is exactly what I and my staff intend to do. We will push. We will challenge.
As Johnson prepares to hit the ground running, he will begin assembling a coaching staff. This process could take a few weeks to finalize. He will become more familiar with the roster and therefore be ready to weigh in on free agency and draft planning.
There is a lot of work to do. The Bears have considerable ground to cover and no trophies are handed out to organizations that grab headlines during the offseason. Adding Johnson seems like the perfect move at the right time. He hit all the right notes on Wednesday. There will be struggles ahead, no doubt about it. The Lions were 4-19-1 in Campbell’s first 24 games in Detroit and although they were still processing an early exit from the playoffs, the franchise improved to 15-2 on the season. last.
It takes time to establish a culture. How Williams performs under the new coaching is a story that remains to be told. Johnson highlighted some roster pieces he likes, including cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, and explained how the Bears defense gave him problems.
Clearly, Johnson is ready for the challenges ahead. Everything lined up for him and the Bears and after a few twists and turns on Monday, things quickly fell into place. It’s almost like the stars aligned for everyone involved.
“The last thing he said before (the interview ended): ‘Did I tell you I wanted this job?’ ” McCaskey said.
