For decades, the Chicago Bears have been known more for bruising defenses than high-flying offenses. You’d have to go all the way back to the 1940s-when George Halas and Sid Luckman were revolutionizing the game with the T-formation-to find a time when the Bears were truly considered an offensive powerhouse.
Since then, it’s been a long stretch of defensive dominance carrying the franchise, from the ’63 title team to the iconic 1985 squad. But offensive consistency?
That’s been the missing piece.
Now, there’s a growing sense that the Bears might have finally found the offensive mind to change that narrative-Ben Johnson.
And if you ask Mike Martz, he’s not just on board-he’s all in.
Martz, the mastermind behind the “Greatest Show on Turf” and one of the most respected offensive architects of his era, didn’t hesitate when asked about Johnson. The two crossed paths years ago in Miami, when Johnson was still cutting his teeth as a young assistant.
Even then, Martz saw something special. Now, with Johnson on the cusp of what could be a transformative head coaching opportunity, Martz is convinced: the Bears have hit the jackpot.
“He’s a once-in-a-generation coach,” Martz said during an interview on 670 The Score. “They hit a home run with him.
I think he’ll be there for a very long time. He’ll be extremely successful.”
That’s not just hyperbole coming from a coach who’s been there. Martz has seen what it takes to build an elite offense from the ground up, and he sees those same traits in Johnson. And if history is any guide, Martz might be onto something.
The NFL has a long track record of offensive innovators who didn’t just change the game-they won big doing it. Sid Gillman laid the foundation in the ’50s and ’60s, turning vertical passing into a weapon and capturing an AFL title.
Don Coryell took it further, pushing the envelope with Air Coryell and turning the Chargers into must-watch football. Then came Bill Walsh, whose West Coast offense became a dynasty blueprint in San Francisco.
Mike Shanahan’s wide-zone run scheme powered the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowls in the ’90s. More recently, Andy Reid’s blend of creativity and adaptability has earned him three rings in Kansas City.
Sean McVay brought a new wave of offensive ingenuity to Los Angeles and delivered a Lombardi Trophy of his own.
There’s a common thread among all these coaches: innovation, adaptability, and the ability to elevate talent. And when those coaches pair their systems with the right quarterback and a strong supporting cast, championships tend to follow.
That’s what makes the Bears’ current trajectory so intriguing. According to Martz, they already have two of the three critical pieces in place: the coach in Johnson, and the quarterback in Caleb Williams.
The final piece? A defense that can hold its own when it matters most.
If that unit can rise to the occasion, the Bears won’t just be fun to watch-they’ll be a legitimate contender.
It’s early, of course. But the buzz around Johnson isn’t just noise-it’s coming from people who’ve built elite offenses and know what it takes. If he lives up to the billing, the Bears may finally be turning the page on their long-standing offensive struggles.
And if that happens, we could be looking at a very different kind of Bears football in the years to come-one where the offense is no longer an afterthought, but the driving force.