The mark of a good head coach is getting players to buy into what they’re selling. Make no mistake. Not every player is gung-ho about such things. Many are skeptical, at least at first. Some prefer to maintain a degree of distance, working on their game in their own ways. Ben Johnson faced that challenge from the moment he took over as the Chicago Bears‘ head coach. It was particularly difficult because this was an extremely embittered locker room, which had been affected by what happened with the previous coaching staff last year.

Johnson’s first step was convincing guys how important spring practices were. While most were not mandatory, all of them would set the tone for how good this team could be. Probably the hardest name to convince was Montez Sweat. To the surprise of many, the former Pro Bowl defensive end showed up for OTAs and minicamps. Historically, he has never done that, dating back to his years in Washington.

“I feel like it was important for a new scheme, especially with a complex scheme like this, just to come in, learn the defense.”

While Johnson didn’t take credit for this development, his comment certainly hinted that his talks with Sweat in the spring played a big part in it happening.

“Met with him in the springtime and everything that we sat down and we talked about is exactly what he’s been about. I think that speaks volumes for his character. He was very disappointed with how the season went last year as a lot of the guys in the locker room were both individually and as a team, and felt such a way, so compelled, that he was here throughout the springtime, which is not something that he’s done in the past.”

Ben Johnson seems able to bridge that crucial gap with players.

Plenty of coaches can tell players what to do. It is the nature of their job. Few can genuinely converse with him, explaining why things must be done a certain way. Matt Nagy always called it the “whys.” He had the right idea, but never seemed able to convey things properly enough. In only a few months that Ben Johnson has been in charge, there is a growing list of evidence to suggest he can communicate like that. Getting aloof veterans like Sweat to fully commit is no easy feat. Guys have brought intensity and effort to training camp while the coaches provide the firm hand of direction. Everything done has a purpose. If guys do things the right way, the Bears will start winning football games.

Hard Knocks showed last year that the best part about training camp is often the stories and the people behind them. Unfortunately, Chicago Bears fans don’t get the same access to those stories this year as they did in 2024. Still, one can safely assume there are plenty of intriguing ones happening behind the scenes that will emerge sooner or later. In fact, one already has. People just happened not to really notice because of bigger things happening elsewhere on the roster as camp unfolds.

It took place when right tackle Darnell Wright received a rest day from the coaching staff. That necessitated somebody taking over that spot with the first team offense. One would’ve imagined 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo would’ve gotten that nod, having played the position throughout most of college. However, the coaches wanted him to focus on the battle at left tackle. Even Kiran Amegadjie, their 3rd round pick last year, didn’t get the nod. Instead, it was a forgotten face many fans likely wrote off.

Theo Benedet is getting a deserved second chance with Chicago Bears.

There was a lot of excitement around the former undrafted free agent. He was a novelty, having come down from Canada boasting a giant 6’7 frame and standout athleticism. There was a buzz building around him early in training camp. Hopes were high that a strong preseason could lead to a roster spot. Sadly, he suffered a hamstring injury in the Hall of Fame game, knocking him out for a month. That forced the Chicago Bears to find alternatives. Benedet eventually landed on the practice squad and he went quiet after that. It seems the new coaching staff is intrigued by what the second-year tackle offers.

The Chicago Bears wrapped up their first week of training camp, with a couple practices open to fans at Halas Hall. While excitement is high for the 2025 season, much of the early focus has been on the offense—and not for the right reasons. Outside of a more encouraging showing on Saturday, the unit has struggled to find rhythm and consistency.

Ben Johnson addressed the slow start, making it clear that he’s not concerned. He pointed to a number of variables, including the natural learning curve of a new system and personnel still adjusting to the new installs. Johnson also emphasized that the defense being ahead of the offense early in camp is almost by design. Still, the lack of cohesion has sparked some concern among fans and media alike.

That said, not everything has been gloomy on offense. In fact, one player who deserves far more attention for his strong start is second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze.

Rome Might Be Built In Year 2

Odunze has been a standout through the first week of camp, showing why the Bears made him a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s becoming a consistent mismatch against defenders, blending size, body control, and elite ball skills into a growing role within the offense. Odunze reportedly added muscle over the offseason, and it shows—his routes look sharper, and while he may not have gained actual speed, he certainly plays faster.

His ability to win contested catches—something he flashed during stretches of his rookie season—remains one of his best traits. But the most promising development may be the chemistry forming between Odunze and Caleb Williams. The two have connected on multiple big plays already, and that connection is only expected to grow stronger as camp continues.

If the Bears offense is going to find its footing soon, don’t be surprised if Odunze plays a big role in making that happen.

Rome wasn’t built in a day but it might be in year 2.

Bears Training Camp Highlights: Caleb Williams & Offense DOMINATE

Plenty of roster battles are going on for the Chicago Bears as training camp continues. However, none can hold a candle to the importance of what’s happening at left tackle. It is the second-most important position on the entire offense. It will likely determine the ceiling for what the Bears’ offensive line can be this season. Even crazier is that it isn’t your typical two-man race. This is a three-headed battle between what head coach Ben Johnson deemed equal competitors: incumbent Braxton Jones, former 3rd round pick Kiran Amegadjie, and rookie 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo.

Without the pads on yet, there is no way to determine who is leading the way thus far. All three men have rotated with the starting offense through the first three practices. Yet somehow it appears the first change of the wind direction arrived with a development from the third day. Amegadjie left the field nursing an apparent injury.

This is a brutal setback for him. Amegadjie already missed last offseason recovering from a quad injury suffered in college. Suffering another setback in easily the most important camp of his young career is brutal. Meanwhile, it sounds like Trapilo has stood out the most of the three in drills.

The Chicago Bears won’t make any decisions for weeks.

This is a battle that will be decided with pads. That is the only way offensive linemen can be properly evaluated. Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar will want to see how Trapilo and the others handle Montez Sweat and that defensive front in full contact drills. No doubt the upcoming joint practices will also be a huge part of the evaluation. Right now, it feels like Jones and Trapilo are situating themselves as the two with the best odds to win. Amegadjie cannot afford to miss much time. He must hope this injury isn’t too serious. Missing anything more than a few days would cripple his hopes of ever seeing the field. This is why they say availability is the most vital part of success in the NFL.

Facts are facts. Ben Johnson wouldn’t have the Chicago Bears job right now if Matt Eberflus were competent enough. Getting fired in less than three seasons by this organization is an all-time low for any head coach. There were so many reasons he got fired. Late-game management, constant mental errors by players, and zero accountability all played big parts. Of course, most will remember his incredible mismanagement of the offense above all. Hiring Luke Getsy and Shane Waldron as his offensive coordinators will go on his NFL tombstone.

One thing that became clear at Johnson’s latest press conference was that he is unimpressed with the work done last year with Caleb Williams. So much so that the Bears’ head coach admitted that nothing his quarterback learned last year will be carried over to 2025. This season will basically be a complete reset.

“There really isn’t a ton of carryover from what he was asked to do. The play calls or anything of that nature… Now we’re asking him to be a little bit more structured in terms of the play calls… There’s a lot more going on mentally than probably there’s ever been for him. So at some point, this thing will start slowing down, and he’s going to be able to catch up and his physical ability will take over from there.”

Johnson’s admission made it clear that whatever Waldron and the previous staff tried to teach was completely useless. There was no structure or purpose behind what they ran. That is a cardinal sin for any coach.

Ben Johnson is intent on teaching Williams the purpose of everything.

His offense in Detroit was designed to be complementary. A strong rushing attack led to play action. Play action led to big plays down the field. Every receiver must run precise routes to create space where required. Anybody who doesn’t do their job doesn’t play. The quarterback is responsible for managing the chaos. They must run the play in a timely manner, getting to the line of scrimmage with enough time to assess the defense. Once he knows what they’re showing, he must adjust the play if necessary and run it.

From there, it is about getting the ball to the open man on time. It sounds simple, but Ben Johnson knows the only way for a quarterback to reach true mastery is through relentless hard work. That is why he’s grinding Williams every day. The previous staff seemed unwilling to do that.