Ben Johnson Uses Two Words To Describe The Chicago Bears Franchise
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The Chicago Bears were able to make a huge splash this week by hiring former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach.
Johnson was a candidate for several teams during the last two offseason, taking several interviews before deciding to head to Chicago. After choosing his first head coaching destination, Johnson explained what led to his decision.
According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Johnson noted that he saw the Bears as a "sleeping giant" within the NFC North.
Johnson said that, during his time with the Lions, the Bears were the team that he needed to do the most work to prepare for in the division.
Ben Johnson has high praise for his new team 🐻
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 22, 2025
(via @CourtneyRCronin) pic.twitter.com/unZtBmXfaB
He also mentioned last year's No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, and what he could do to help the young quarterback as he continues to develop in Chicago.
"There's no doubt Caleb played a large component into my decision," Johnson said during his introduction on Wednesday.
"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."
Johnson explained that, under his leadership, the Bears will do everything they can to support Williams in his second season and beyond.
The Bears hired Johnson due to his success with Jared Goff in Detroit, as the former top draft pick has blossomed into one of the league's quarterbacks over the last few seasons.
Goff had the best season of his career in 2024, and while it may not have ended the way he or the Lions hoped, it's still a testament to how well the offense was able to play this year.
The Bears will hope that success can translate to their organization, as they're still looking for their first playoff appearance since the 2020 season.
The Lions have shown that turning a team around is possible with the right personnel and the right philosophy. The Bears are hoping they have both with their new head coach after what he's been able to do in their division.
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