For years, the Chicago Bears were stuck in a coaching carousel that never quite spun their way. From Marc Trestman to John Fox, Matt Nagy to Matt Eberflus, the franchise kept searching for the right voice in the locker room - and kept coming up short.
There were flashes of competence, sure, but sustained excellence? Nowhere to be found.
That’s why when Ben Johnson arrived, it didn’t just feel like a new hire - it felt like a turning point.
Johnson came in with a clear pedigree. After three straight years of success as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, there was no doubt about who he was or what he brought to the table.
He called the plays, built the scheme, and helped turn the Lions' offense into one of the league’s most consistent threats. He wasn’t a product of someone else’s system - he was the system.
That kind of clarity matters, especially for a Bears franchise that’s spent too long chasing offensive identity.
Now? The Bears are 10-4 and very much in the playoff picture.
And it’s not a fluke. It’s the result of a team that finally feels like it has a plan - and a coach who knows how to execute it.
Colin Cowherd recently compared Johnson’s arrival in Chicago to Sean McVay’s game-changing debut with the Rams eight years ago. That’s a lofty comparison, but not an outrageous one.
McVay took a team in disarray, turned Jared Goff into a Pro Bowler, and had the Rams in the Super Bowl by Year 2. Five straight winning seasons and a Lombardi Trophy later, McVay had redefined what a young, offensive-minded head coach could do in this league.
If Johnson is even in that conversation, the Bears may have finally found their long-awaited answer - not just at head coach, but as a franchise leader.
Now, let’s be clear: Johnson still has work to do before he’s mentioned in the same breath as McVay. One strong season doesn’t make a legacy.
But what he’s done already is undeniable. He’s brought structure, energy, and - maybe most importantly - belief back to a team that had been running on fumes.
You can see it in the way Caleb Williams is developing. The rookie quarterback is starting to look like the real deal, and that’s no accident.
Johnson has crafted an offense that plays to his strengths, and the results are showing up on Sundays. The Bears are scoring points, playing with rhythm, and showing a level of cohesion that hasn’t been seen in years.
It’s not just about scheme, though. It’s about culture.
Players are buying in. Coaches are aligned.
The front office finally feels in sync with what’s happening on the field. That kind of top-down harmony doesn’t happen by accident - it starts with leadership, and Johnson has brought it in spades.
So yeah, it’s early. But it’s also exciting.
For the first time in a long time, the Bears aren’t just playing out the string or hoping for a spark. They’re building something - and with Ben Johnson at the helm, it might just be something special.