Ben Johnson’s Impact Already Felt in Chicago as Bears Eye Next Step
In his first year at the helm, Ben Johnson didn’t just steer the Bears to the NFC Divisional Round - he helped reshape the identity of a franchise that had been searching for direction. And if you ask the guys in the locker room, that turnaround wasn’t by accident.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze, one of the team’s emerging stars, wasted no time picking up on what Johnson was all about.
“I learned from the first time he stepped into the building who he was, and I learned who he wasn’t,” Odunze said. “He was consistent throughout the entire season - with his goals for us, with his determination, with how he leads and where he wants this organization to go.”
That consistency wasn’t just about X’s and O’s. It was about culture - something the Bears have struggled to establish for years. Odunze emphasized the importance of having a coach who could set the tone, hold players accountable, and foster a sense of unity that goes beyond the field.
“If you don’t have that, you don’t have anything,” he said. “There are just certain guys who have the unique ability to push guys to the limit, and yet they want to run through a wall for him.
There are certain guys whose secret sauce is in front of the team. After practice.
After devastating losses. It’s just that genuine ability to turn the worst situation you can ever think of into a mindset among the players of, ‘Man, we’re going to fight for this guy.’”
That kind of buy-in is rare - especially in Year One. But Johnson’s approach clearly resonated, not just with stars like Odunze but with the entire roster. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent echoed those sentiments, pointing to Johnson’s laser focus as a key factor in his early success.
“He’s just always locked in, ya know?” Bagent said.
“There is nothing I can think of that could deter him from being super dialed in. I think that is how Ben has built his life.”
It’s not just the locker room that’s buzzing. Around the league, there’s growing chatter about the Bears being active players this offseason - including potential interest in Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, who’s set to hit free agency.
According to league insiders, Etienne’s skill set may be a better fit in Jacksonville’s offense under new head coach Liam Coen, who emphasizes pass-catching backs. But that hasn’t stopped speculation that Chicago could make a run at him, especially with Johnson looking to build a balanced and explosive offense.
Meanwhile, the Bears will not be receiving compensatory draft picks for the Falcons’ hiring of assistant GM Ian Cunningham as their new general manager. That’s because the NFL considers Falcons President of Football Operations Matt Ryan as the team’s top football executive. Translation: the Bears technically could’ve blocked the move - but chose not to.
That decision speaks volumes about the front office’s confidence in its current structure and direction. With Johnson leading the charge and a young core buying in, Chicago is clearly betting on stability - and momentum - heading into a pivotal offseason.
Vikings Begin Front Office Reset After Firing GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Up in Minnesota, the Vikings are entering a new chapter of their own - and it starts with a front office overhaul.
Team owner and president Mark Wilf confirmed the team will conduct a “thorough search” for a new general manager after the NFL Draft. The timing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing caught many inside the building off guard, but according to Wilf, the decision wasn’t tied to any one move.
“It’s not necessarily a fair thing to talk about any one decision,” Wilf said when asked about quarterback Sam Darnold. “It’s a body of work.
It’s a cumulative set of decisions. It’s four years of where we’ve been… We need to get to a better place.”
Translation: this was about the big picture - and a sense that the organization wasn’t trending in the right direction. Around the league, the move wasn’t all that surprising. Internally, though, the timing raised eyebrows.
As the Vikings prepare for a new era, they’ve already started reshaping the coaching staff. Former Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith is joining the team as assistant head coach, and Keith Carter is coming aboard as the new offensive line coach.
With a GM search on the horizon and a coaching staff in flux, the Vikings are clearly setting the stage for a reset - one that could define the franchise’s trajectory for years to come.