The Chicago Bears got their guy in Ben Johnson. After a tumultuous first season for quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears are now pairing him with a certified offensive genius in Johnson. While the conversation around the decision has been marred by the ill-fated ending to the Detroit Lions’ season, the new head coach is already looking ahead.
After the news was made official, Johnson sent a clear message to the Chicago fan base. Safe to say, the Bears have found a good one.
Ben Johnson Looks Ready for Chicago Bears Position
Two days after Detroit’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion, news came out of Johnson finalizing a deal to become the Bears’ new head coach. It was met with some anger from the Detroit faithful as well as excitement from the NFL fandom at large.
Understandably, Johnson falls in the latter group. Touching down with his family, he made an emphatic statement to everyone about his desire to be the man in Chicago.
“Listen, thank you so much. My family and me are beyond excited. This is exactly where we wanted to be.”
It looks like Detroit’s former offensive coordinator is ready to get things rolling in the Windy City, and it’s easy to understand his excitement.
🗣️ "This is exactly where we wanted to be." pic.twitter.com/mT56UoVGdl
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 21, 2025
For four seasons, Johnson revolutionized the Lions’ offense. What began as a steady growth soon turned into a juggernaut as Detroit was the best offense in the NFL, according to PFN’s Offense+ metric.
And for those who have high hopes for Williams as the franchise quarterback in Chicago, Johnson paved the way for Jared Goff to finish as the league’s second-best QB, according to PFN’s QB+ metric.
Johnson could take the Bears’ offense to new heights and improve Williams from the No. 33 overall QB ranking he garnered this season. After all, Goff was sitting in 26th before Johnson took over play-calling duties in Detroit.
Both those signs bode extremely well for a young Bears team that could grow together with a 38-year-old first-time head coach.
Johnson’s incredible combination of innovative passing sets and trick plays, combined with a bevy of rushing calls, made Detroit’s offense completely unpredictable. With Williams and running back DeAndre Swift, he has a chance to replicate some of that success in Chicago as well.
Going to a division rival will be a tough challenge, especially with the Lions’ fan base already throwing vitriol at their now-departed offensive coordinator. But, as his mindset suggests, Johnson is ready for the challenge.
The race in the NFC North, if it was even possible, just got tighter.
