If there is one thing we’ve learned about Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, it is that he will not be a “pat on the shoulder pads” type of guy. He has a certain standard in mind for this football team and everybody is expected to meet it. That goes for players and coaches alike. No compromises. No grading on a curve. What happened last year means nothing. That team is gone. If the Bears of 2026 want respect, it will be earned, and that starts on the practice field this month. Team veterans already know this. The incoming rookie class? Well, their education is almost at hand.
Johnson was asked on Friday what he has told the rookies as they gathered for minicamps this weekend. What does he want them to learn? The head coach made one thing clear. How they practiced and prepared in college is about to change.
“Yeah, well, I think all these guys, and it’s regardless of draft pick or undrafted rookie, it really doesn’t matter how they got here. We’re all looking for competition, and Ryan (Poles) and I alluded to that a couple weeks ago after the draft.
The expectation for them is to, once again, learn our way of doing things, how we go about our business in the meeting room, walk through practice field, what that looks like, and as soon as they pick that up, then they’ll really be able to compete for what is their niche this year. How can they provide value for this football team? Is it special teams? Is it competing for playing time on offense or defense? That’s really up to them, but learning our way of life is first and foremost.”
Once again, Johnson showed that he has a vision for this team. There is a specific way he expects the Bears to prepare. That includes working out, film study, and, of course, practice. Everything must be approached with passion and purpose. If that doesn’t appeal to you, be prepared not to be around long.
Ben Johnson continues to show he understands football.
One problem that persisted with previous head coaches over the past decade is that they never quite succeeded at giving the Bears an identity. John Fox was vague on his intentions from the moment he arrived. Matt Nagy clearly wanted an aggressive, attacking team, but lacked both the personnel and the offensive expertise to implement it. Matt Eberflus seemed content to let the personnel dictate which direction he would go with that, and unsurprisingly, that direction proved to be nowhere.
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Not Ben Johnson. From the moment he arrived, the head coach made it crystal clear what type of team he expected. He wanted a physical, violent, aggressive group built around running the football successfully. Simple and easy to understand. Once the Bears managed to find that identity early last season, things fell into place. They started playing good football and winning games. It wasn’t always perfect, but everybody knew their roles, which made life easier. It will be up to this rookie class to learn how to apply their own talents to that identity.
The good news is that the Bears sought out such players.
Every draft pick and undrafted free agent exhibited physical and mental traits that Ben Johnson felt would mesh well with the team’s culture. Dillon Thieneman had the perfect mix of intelligence and aggressiveness that Dennis Allen wants on defense. Logan Jones and Sam Roush are both physical and savvy blockers who delight in getting their hands dirty at the line of scrimmage. Zavion Thomas brings a team-first mindset that has allowed him to excel both as a returner and a jack-of-all-trades weapon on offense. Keyshaun Elliott and Malik Muhammad were both vocal leaders, while Jordan Van Den Berg played with a non-stop motor.
The harsh reality is that not everybody in this rookie group will succeed in the NFL. It is something that is difficult to accept. More than half of these young men will fail. Coach Johnson sought to make it clear that if you want to give yourself the best possible odds, then it starts with embracing what it means to be a Bear. Those who learn and accept this identity quickly understand what it means to be a professional.
