Ben Johnson has reinvigorated the Chicago Bears. Most people expected him to be a good coach. They didn’t expect this. In the span of 10 months, the 38-year-old took a 5-12 team to a 9-3 record, the 32nd offense to 6th, and the 25th rushing attack to 1st. Caleb Williams is operating more and more like a professional each week. His play-calling prowess is somehow better than advertised. However, it’s been his infectious energy and intensity that has gotten the locker room to buy in.
Never was it more evident than after the Bears smashed their way past the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night. Johnson, sensing the moment, decided to honor a bet with legendary local restaurant The Wiener Circle by taking off his shirt for the cameras. The celebration was as raucous as you’d expect.
Yet amidst the joy, a mystery has surfaced. The national cameras didn’t catch it, but a photographer did. During Johnson’s striptease, a Bears player was seen in the background punching a literal hole in the ceiling of the visitor locker room.
Ben Johnson certainly got the reaction he wanted.
If you’re so excited about a coach taking his shirt off for the cameras that you punch a hole in the ceiling, that is buy-in. As to who it is? Ceilings in a locker room typically measure at least eight feet high. You see Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland in the photo. Both are 6’6. Based on the distance between the ceiling and their heads, we can assume it’s probably nine or ten feet high. That means whoever punched the hole had to be tall with long arms. He’s too thin to be an offensive lineman, but bigger than a skill position guy . I believe we’re looking at a linebacker or defensive lineman.
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Montez Sweat? Not enough tattoos. Austin Booker? The hair is too short. It will be interesting to see if the culprit comes forward at some point later this season. Maybe Ben Johnson can get him to react like that again. Whatever the case, this photo is a perfect encapsulation of how far the Bears have come.
