If you were someone who named-checked Ben Johnson when asked what you were thankful for on Thanksgiving, just know that you are not alone.
At this time last year, we were in the beginning stages of our third Bears head coach search as a site. And it was on this date (Dec. 1) last year when we got our first inkling as to what Chicago’s football team was looking for in its next head coach. It began with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reporting that culture builders would be the hot hires of the 2025 NFL coach-hiring cycle. In that same vein, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones had this to say about what the Bears, specifically, were looking for in their next coach:
Multiple sources tell CBS Sports the Bears want to land a “leader of men” type of head coach. Their background on offense or defense won’t matter as much as their leadership abilities with a group of pro athletes in one of the largest media markets in America.
“They need to resemble the attributes of what Chicago stands for,” said one source, adding the coach will need to be battle-tested and mentally strong to be seriously considered for the job.
As for specific names, Jones listed the following in connection with the Bears: Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, Brian Flores, and Bill Belichick.
Notably absent from that particular piece was Ben Johnson.
Aug 10, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the sidelines against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesBen Johnson not being connected to the Bears head coaching opportunity seems unfathomable as we sit here one year later. However, I can understand why his name might have slipped past Jones and others. Because, at the time, there was a narrative building around the upcoming head coach hiring cycle. Simply put, it boiled down to whether teams wanted culture-changing leader-of-men types in the locker room or the latest hot-shot coordinator whiz. And when it came to Johnson, the narrative that was attached to him (fair or not) was that he was an offensive wizard whose ability to be the leader-of-men was in question.
We are just 12 games into Ben Johnson’s head coaching career and I do not believe there are any more questions about his ability to lead a locker room.
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— Bleacher Nation Bears (@bn-bears.bsky.social) November 28, 2025 at 6:14 PMBen Johnson has brought new life to the Chicago Bears
One of the lessons that was drilled into my soul growing up was that it was wrong to judge a book by its cover. And while I did not pigeonhole Johnson as solely a quarterback-whispering offensive braniac who was sent to save Caleb Williams, that was the narrative surrounding the then-Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. The main question surrounding Johnson, as an assistant looking to make the leap into being a head coach, had everything to do with if he could lead a locker room. Otherwise, the vibe around him was all about gadget plays, trickery, and a high-flying offense. Only now do we realize that only begins to scratch the surface of the Ben Johnson experience.
Johnson’s offense has gadgetry, trickery, and vertical concepts that light up scoreboards. But what wasn’t offered up at the time was the fact that his scheme was rooted in a ground-and-pound run game that was physical enough to soften up defenses before delivering the big blow by way of a vertical deep shot or a misdirection play that twists defenses into knots. Twelve games into our first season watching Johnson as a head coach has taught us that the ground game is what opens things up for the trickeration — which isn’t something you were going to get from clip shows and highlight reels.
Sep 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson reacts during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesPLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE BN BEARS PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube
Back in January, this is what The Athletic’s Dianna Russini had to say about what it meant to be a “leader of men” candidate in 2025:
“When I heard Kevin Warren say ‘leader of men’ … it’s obvious a simple way of going: ‘Alright, we need somebody in here to immediately give us identity, to immediately hold everybody accountable, to cut out the BS, and to make sure all the details are being paid attention to.’”
That sure as heck sounds like Ben Johnson to me. We didn’t know it at the time. But we do now.
I’m not sure how Ben Johnson’s rep at this time last year didn’t reflect what we know now. Maybe it wasn’t allowed to shine through because Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell was the big personality. Perhaps narratives were built by folks in Detroit who wanted to keep Johnson as Campbell’s right-hand-man for as long as possible. Seeing how things are going for the Lions right now, I can see why.
In the end, I find myself thinking about the lesson of how valuable it is to not judge a book by its cover. It is a life lesson that transcends into football. And it is something we should keep in mind as we move along in this life.
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