The Bears have done it—they’ve landed their top target. From the start, they aimed for the hottest offensive mind in football over the past decade. Despite widespread criticism of the Bears’ front office from both the media and fans, they’ve managed to secure their guy in Ben Johnson. While the organization’s dysfunction isn’t entirely negated with one move, landing the top coaching candidate despite these challenges highlights the power of the Bears name—and perhaps a generous paycheck helped too.
Ben Johnson wanted Chicago.
Not Las Vegas. Not Jacksonville.
He wanted to work with Caleb Williams.
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 20, 2025
The Bears are a charter franchise, and winning in Chicago holds a unique prestige, unlike winning in cities like Las Vegas or Jacksonville. In Chicago, winning can make you a legend, and it seems Ben Johnson wants to achieve that legendary status. It’s too early to fully evaluate this hire, but bringing in the top coaching candidate is an undeniable win—an automatic A+ for me. But ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak agrees, awarding the hire an A+ and calling it the “dream outcome” for the Bears.
Solak praised the pairing of Johnson with Chicago’s young quarterback, Caleb Williams, emphasizing how Johnson’s offensive expertise could maximize Williams’ potential and shape the future of the Bears . Johnson’s presence alone significantly increases the likelihood of Williams’ success.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
“Most importantly, Johnson is the sort of powerful offensive mind who can draw the best out of Williams — the future of Bears football if he hits. A coach like Johnson makes Williams hitting all the more likely. The Bears got their guy.”
Caleb Williams wanted a coach he could grow with for the next decade or more, and now, Chicago has their man.
