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After the Detroit Lions’ divisional-round exit in the NFC playoffs, Ben Johnson quickly determined where he wanted to take the next step in his career. In his view, the Chicago Bears were a “sleeping giant.”
As the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024, Johnson frequently game-planned for the Bears and saw potential in the team, especially their young quarterback, Caleb Williams. That potential helped make Johnson’s decision to become Chicago’s new head coach an easy one.
“Having a quarterback helps,” Johnson said with a smile.
On Wednesday, Johnson, 38, was introduced at Halas Hall as the Bears’ 19th head coach in the franchise’s 105-year history. Known for crafting an offense that led the Lions to the NFC’s No. 1 seed and helped quarterback Jared Goff deliver three consecutive 4,000-yard seasons, Johnson now faces the challenge of building a winning offense around Caleb Williams.
Building an Offense Around Caleb Williams
Johnson emphasized that Chicago’s offense will be specifically designed for Williams and won’t replicate the system he ran in Detroit.
“There’s no doubt Caleb played a large component into my decision,” Johnson said. “He is a phenomenal talent that had — as many quarterbacks do — an up-and-down rookie year. Where I see my role is as a supporter of him. This offense will be calibrated with him in mind. We’re going to build this thing. This is not simply a dropping of a previous playbook down on the table and starting there. Nope, we’re ripping this thing down to the studs, and we’re going to build it out with him first and foremost, and then with the pieces around him next.”
Williams, 23, shared his excitement about Johnson’s arrival. He received a call from the Bears’ leadership team on Monday, informing him of the decision, and let out a scream of excitement.
“He told me that it’ll be my offense,” Williams said. “He’s going to build around me, but also, he’s going to test me. He’s going to challenge me in the offseason and things like that to what’s worked and what works in the NFL and things he may want me to get better at, but at the end of the day, if that doesn’t fit me, if it doesn’t work with me, it won’t be there — and our personnel overall.”
Williams, training in Florida, attended Johnson’s introductory press conference alongside wide receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and tight end Cole Kmet.
Fixing the Offensive Line
One of Johnson’s top priorities will be improving the Bears’ offensive line. Williams led the NFL in sacks last season, going down 68 times due to a mix of holding the ball too long and poor pass protection.
“I think offensive line is certainly an area that we need to get better play from going forward, something that Ryan (general manager Ryan Poles) and I have already talked about,” Johnson said. “We will develop a plan of attack for how to get that done, but I’m looking forward to getting an excellent offensive line coach in the building to help develop the young talent that we already have on the roster, and we will certainly talk about acquiring talent to bolster that unit as well. But I was certainly blessed the last few years with the men that I worked with. And that was something I would love to replicate here as well.”
Johnson’s previous success with Detroit’s strong offensive line is something he hopes to replicate in Chicago.
A New Vision for Chicago
Johnson made it clear that Chicago’s offense won’t be a carbon copy of Detroit’s. He plans to adapt his system to fit Williams’ skill set and the unique talent on the roster.
“Not every player is Jared Goff, but you’re yourself, ” Williams said. That goes into that. Being able to have a coach that understands that and wants to build around me and then the other personnel that we have on this team, the wide receivers, special wide receivers that we have. Special running backs. All these different aspects of a team and an offense I think works in our favor and works in his favor. It’s great that he knows that and understands that because that brings another level of excitement, because now it’s ours.”
While Johnson acknowledged the importance of Williams, he stressed that success will require contributions from the entire team.
“Everyone wants to talk about the quarterback, and Caleb, I’m excited to work with you,” Johnson said. “But it’s going to take more than just you. There are a lot of pieces already in place.”
A Fresh Start for the Bears
Johnson’s track record with the Lions, where he helped Goff achieve career-best numbers and led an explosive offense, gives hope to Bears fans. But the task ahead is significant. After finishing 5-12 last season, Chicago has plenty of room for improvement.
With Johnson at the helm and a clear focus on Caleb Williams and the offensive line, the Bears are gearing up for a rebuild aimed at unlocking their potential and becoming a contender in the NFC North.
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This report used information from ESPN.
