Ben Johnson arrived in Chicago just over two months ago. At that time, he had to fill out his coaching staff while also joining GM Ryan Poles in evaluating potential roster additions in free agency and the draft. One would think that it doesn’t leave much time for doing anything else. Jaquan Brisker can understand that. The safety has spent the past several months recovering from the concussion that knocked him out of last season. He can’t expect the new head coach to find much time for him during such a busy off-season period.
It turns out he was mistaken. Brisker told Kyle Odegard of Casino Beats that he encountered Johnson recently. The head coach greeted him and asked to have a conversation. Brisker expected it to be a brief introduction and exchange of pleasantries that lasted no more than a few minutes.
He was mistaken.
“Yes, I actually did meet him. I met him in the offseason when I was working out up there. The first day or two it was tough to get him, because he was moving around, but the second or third day I got to meet him. And to be honest, I really thought it was going to be, like, a five-minute conversation, and it turned to, like, maybe an hour-thirty, two-hour conversation. And it was about ball, about life. He was very easy to talk to. You could tell he’s a great person, great man. He fits right in. It was a great conversation…
…I thought it was gonna be five to 10, just a little quick, you know, what’s up? He told me to sit down and the conversation ended up going and going. We talked about so many different things. So I’m like, yeah, that connection is there. It was easy from there.”
Johnson continues to show that he isn’t just some play-calling wizard who wants to focus on the Xs and Os. He understands one of the core responsibilities of a head coach is getting to know the players. What drives them? What do they need to get better? Great coaches take the extra time to learn these things.
Jaquan Brisker can already tell Johnson is different.
One of Matt Eberflus’ biggest criticisms was his dismissing players’ concerns. This was also leveled against him as a defensive coordinator in Indianapolis. He got away with it because he was a solid play-caller. However, that doesn’t work when you have the top job. If you can’t win over the players as a head coach, you’re screwed. It appears Johnson is already showing that he is a far different person and leader. Jaquan Brisker could sense it from the moment the two met. This is somebody who could be worth playing for. Johnson still has plenty to prove. He hasn’t coached in actual games yet. Then again, the same can be said of Brisker. He’s in a contract year, coming off a season-ending injury. Both men aim to show each other what they can do.
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