Ben Johnson made it clear that what the Chicago Bears accomplished in 2025, while commendable, won’t be carried over into 2026. He knows that teams change a lot in one offseason, so the team the Bears had before won’t be what they walk into this September with. Johnson will thus have to find new ways to motivate them. He may not have to look far for ideas. John Ewing recently revealed on Twitter (X) that Bet MGM revealed the early betting odds for next year’s Super Bowl.
It had the usual suspects at the top. The reigning champion Seattle Seahawks had the best odds at +800, with their division rival Los Angeles Rams, right behind them at +900. One would think the Bears have a solid spot on that list, right? Nope. They sit at +2500, just ahead of the Bengals and Cowboys, who missed the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers, the team the Bears beat in the playoffs, are at +1400. The Chargers, who haven’t won a playoff game since Philip Rivers left, are +1500. Last but not least, the Jaguars, who were one-and-done in the playoffs, are +2000.
If there was ever an indication that people think the Bears’ run was a fluke, this confirms it.
Ben Johnson already has a priceless piece of bulletin board material.
By far the easiest way for a head coach to motivate his players is to play on the idea that nobody respects them. The only ones who believe in the team are the guys in that locker room. Professional athletes have big egos. They don’t like being ignored, especially after having considerable success the previous season. Seeing it brushed off as nothing special leads to annoyance. That annoyance leads to anger. The head coach then channels that anger into working harder in practice. That hard work leads to success on the field.
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This is what Ben Johnson is almost certain to do over the next several months. Media outlets will spend every day overlooking the Bears, focusing more on established contenders than on a surprise Cinderella story. That will continue sitting in the back of the players’ minds, driving them all the harder. Johnson will be right there stoking the fire, eager to get them so worked up that they’re ready to kill somebody on opening day. George Halas was a master at it in his day. Johnson should have no issue following that classic playbook.
It isn’t a secret that the Bears will face a tougher schedule next year. That is the price you pay for winning the division. Johnson will need every edge he can find to get his players ready. Small snubs like this can go a long way when applied correctly.
