Ben Johnson isn’t in the business of sugarcoating. If something’s off, he’s going to say it-plain and simple.
That approach has become a defining trait of his time in Chicago. Whether it’s a coach, a rookie quarterback, or a veteran wideout, no one is above accountability at Halas Hall.
Johnson owns his mistakes, but he expects everyone else to do the same. And if that means calling out players publicly, so be it.
Monday was another moment where that honesty took center stage. The Bears had just pulled off a massive upset over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles-a win that, on paper, should’ve had the whole building buzzing.
But Johnson wasn’t exactly in celebration mode. His focus was already locked in on what didn’t go right, especially in the passing game.
Caleb Williams’ stat line told part of the story: 152 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a completion percentage that once again failed to crack the 60% mark. It wasn’t a disaster, but it wasn’t good enough either. And when Johnson was asked what’s holding the passing game back, he didn’t hesitate.
“Fundamentally be correct,” Johnson said. “The primary receiver, when he’s open, we’ve got to make sure we hit him.
And then all of our pass catchers, we just harped on it today, we need to be more disciplined in our route detail. It’s not where it needs to be.
Our depth’s not proper all the time. Our steps isn’t.”
That’s not just coach speak. That’s a direct challenge to everyone involved.
The numbers back him up. Williams currently ranks dead last-32nd in the league-in on-target passing percentage at 62.1%.
That’s not where you want your top pick to be. But it’s not all on him.
The receivers haven’t exactly been helping him out, either. Chicago’s pass catchers have racked up 18 drops this season, the sixth-most in the NFL.
So even when Williams does put the ball where it needs to be, the execution on the other end has been shaky.
It’s a tough combination: a young quarterback still finding his rhythm, and a receiving corps that hasn’t been consistent with its routes or hands. That’s why Johnson didn’t point fingers at just one position group-because the issues are layered.
The timing isn’t there. The fundamentals are off.
And until those things get cleaned up, the passing game is going to keep spinning its wheels.
But here’s the thing: Johnson’s already shown he can fix things. Look at what he’s done with the run game.
That unit has become a real strength, and it didn’t happen by accident. It took time, coaching, and buy-in from the players.
There’s no reason to believe the passing attack can’t follow the same path. It’s just going to take work-and patience.
The encouraging part? The Bears are still finding ways to win in the meantime.
That’s not something every team with a rookie quarterback and a sputtering aerial attack can say. It speaks to the foundation Johnson is building, one rooted in accountability, honesty, and a relentless push for improvement.
This team isn’t where it wants to be yet. But if Johnson’s track record is any indication, they’re not going to stay stuck for long.