Ben Johnson didn’t leave much mystery about his mindset after the Bears’ win over the Jets. He spent the week giving the same non-answer about his starting quarterback, sticking with a “we’ll see” routine while the reports kept building that Tyson Bagent would get the nod.
Then came the first snap, and Johnson made sure Case Keenum was the first quarterback on the field. Bagent was out there too, but the play was a run, and Johnson later made it clear the move was no accident.
“I got all these memos saying that Tyson was starting before I ever made an announcement, so I wanted to get Case out there first time. It was like his ceremonial first pitch out there, handing off the torch.”
The tone was classic Johnson: dry, pointed, and just a little bit sharp. The message was obvious enough. He wasn’t thrilled that the decision had already leaked before he ever said it himself.
Johnson had another moment like that when he was asked about his choice to kick a field goal in the fourth quarter with the Bears up 20-6. On fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line, he sent Cairo Santos out to make it 23-6 instead of going for it.
One reporter pressed him on whether that was the time to be aggressive, and Johnson kept it simple:
“It was a two-score game, into a three-score game ... right?”
When the same question came right back a moment later, he didn’t budge.
“Turned a two-score game, into a three-score game, in the second half. Right?”
That was the whole answer, and it came with the kind of smirk Bears fans have already learned to recognize. Johnson wasn’t interested in dressing it up.
For a fan base that has sat through Matt Eberflus, Matt Nagy, John Fox and plenty of coach-speak in between, Johnson’s style lands differently. He can be brash.
He can sound full of himself. He doesn’t hide that edge.
And he doesn’t need to.
In his second year on the job, Johnson has already given this team a clear identity and, through the first quarter of the season, shown it can win with any of its three quarterbacks. His way with the media is just another reminder that he’s not here to perform for anyone else. He’s going to say what he wants, coach the way he wants, and keep moving.
In Other News...
Bears Open Week 5 With A Protection Problem Fans Feared
The Bears opened Week 5 with a familiar and uncomfortable sight on the injury report, and this one hit right where the offense can least afford it. Chicago listed 12 players heading into the week, with seven not practicing, including three starting offensive linemen in Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright, a grouping that leaves the front in clear jeopardy before the game plan even gets into motion.
Caleb Williams was also ruled out and did not practice, adding another layer to an offense already trying to stabilize around a battered line. Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift were among the running backs sidelined by injuries, while the news was a little better on defense, where Kyler Gordon and Cam Lewis were full participants and appear close to returning. Still, the early week picture for Chicago was less about who might come back and more about how many key pieces are suddenly unavailable. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Strong Start Just Made One Trade Debate Very Real
Chicagos 3-1 start has changed the tone around the roster, and it has also turned a familiar conversation into a much more serious one: how much should the Bears lean into upgrading a defense that already looks capable of carrying real weight in the NFC? With the Los Angeles Chargers stumbling, the idea of Chicago shopping in that direction suddenly feels less like idle deadline chatter and more like a plausible way to address a unit that could still use another jolt.
The most obvious name in that discussion is Khalil Mack, whose presence would bring instant credibility and familiarity, but he is not the only Chargers defender drawing attention. Tuli Tuipulotu and Cam Hart also fit the kind of long-view roster questions that matter if Los Angeles begins to think differently about its future. For Chicago, the appeal is clear: if the Chargers are drifting toward a reset, the Bears may have a chance to pounce on a player who fits a need before the market gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Luther Burden III Just Added Real Heat To Bears Packers Week 5
Luther Burden III is making it clear the Bears are treating Week 5 like more than just another early-season game. The rookie wideout put the rivalry front and center this week, underscoring Chicagos eagerness to beat Green Bay and do it in convincing fashion, while the bigger backdrop only adds to the temperature around the matchup. Ben Johnson also brings some useful history into this one, with a strong track record against Packers coach Matt LaFleur, including a recent playoff win.
Chicago enters the week with reasons to feel better about where it sits than it has in past editions of this rivalry. The Packers have shown cracks along the offensive line, and the Bears own roster looks deeper and more stable, especially on defense. Burdens comments fit the moment well, because this is the kind of game where confidence, edge and a little extra bite can matter almost as much as the usual Xs and Os. [Read more 🡒]