The thing to remember about Ben Johnson is that you can’t file him under “classy.” While the Chicago Bears head coach certainly holds great respect for other coaches, players, and various NFL people, all of that goes out the window on gamedays. Johnson has told his team on many occasions that his goal is not to win. It is to dominate. He doesn’t just want to beat you. He wants to grind you into the dirt. You didn’t get to see that side of him much in 2025, as he and the Bears kept falling behind in games.
That changed on Sunday in Carolina. The Bears’ offense rampaged over the Panthers all afternoon, piling up 554 yards and a whopping 59 points. It was the highest total ever achieved by a Bears offensive unit in franchise history. One would think Johnson would be more than satisfied with that outcome, what with clobbering Carolina by 22 points.
You would be wrong.
The head coach admitted to Jeff Joniak on ESPN 1000 that he considered going for two after the final touchdown to reach 60 points. He is a sick man.
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Ben Johnson managed to avoid what would’ve been a controversy.
Keep in mind, fewer than four minutes were remaining in the game when Chicago scored. It was over. The Bears had locked up the win. Johnson had already made a statement with 59 points. Going for 60 to rub it in would’ve drawn a heated reaction from people around the league, accusing him of kicking a team when they were down. Maybe he just felt the Panthers weren’t worth that kind of statement. It’s not like they’re the Packers or Lions, after all. He chose to kick the extra point and move on.
Still, the fact that he contemplated the idea at all tells you how merciless he can be. Ben Johnson brings an intensity to games that few head coaches can match. To him, it’s war. You don’t win wars by being chivalrous. You win them by stomping your enemy until they surrender. If you look back at some of the most successful head coaches in NFL history, several of them weren’t known for their mercy. Bill Belichick notoriously ran up the score. So did Jimmy Johnson. People may have hated it, but it didn’t stop those teams from winning.
The point was made either way.
Scoring 60 would’ve been great, but it wouldn’t have changed much. The original intended point was made. Chicago stepped on their opponent’s neck and put them away with emphatic certainty. That was something they couldn’t really do last season. A major reason was their persistent inability to seize control of what they called the “middle eight.” Those are the four minutes at the end of the first half and four minutes at the beginning of the second. This time, the Bears put one in the end zone with 22 seconds left in the first half.
Then, after Carolina tied it 31-31, they scored four consecutive touchdowns to put it out of reach. Johnson had to love that. It was the latest sign that this unit is much more evolved than it was last season. They also carry a higher degree of confidence. Once an offense shifts from wanting to score to expecting to score, everything starts clicking. Johnson may have more opportunities to hit that 60 mark in the future.
