Who Is Ben Johnson?
Ben Johnson is an American football coach and the head coach of the Chicago Bears, widely recognized for his offensive innovation and rapid impact on one of the NFL’s oldest franchises.
He entered the league with the Miami Dolphins in 2012 and later joined the Detroit Lions, where he rose to offensive coordinator and led a top-five offense in every season, including a league-leading attack in 2024 that propelled him into head-coaching consideration.
His success in Detroit, particularly his creative use of personnel and situational play-calling, made him one of the most sought-after coaching candidates before he ultimately chose Chicago as his first head-coaching opportunity.
Ben Johnson and the Bears’ 2025 Turnaround
Johnson was named head coach of the Chicago Bears on January 21, 2025, taking over a team that had finished 5–12, allowed a high number of sacks, and endured significant staff upheaval the year before.
After an 0–2 start that included a blowout loss in Detroit, he secured his first win in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, and from there the Bears surged to an 11–4 record with a top-five offense and multiple wins over playoff-caliber opponents.
The 2025 Bears have become known for their resilience, logging six comeback victories and proving they can beat winning teams, a shift that has turned preseason doubts into legitimate conversations about a deep postseason run.
Culture, Comebacks, and Coach of the Year Buzz
A signature of Johnson’s first season in Chicago has been his focus on culture, highlighted by his adoption of the “Good, better, best” post-game chant that reinforces continuous improvement and collective accountability.
Players and observers point to the Bears’ overtime victory against the Green Bay Packers as a defining cultural moment, where Johnson’s steady leadership and belief in his roster helped secure a pivotal 22–16 win and a strong grip on the NFC North race.
Despite some awards voters favoring other candidates, many analysts argue that transforming a 5–12 team into an 11-win playoff squad with a top-tier offense in one year makes Johnson a clear contender for Coach of the Year and a coach to watch for seasons to come.