On Monday, news broke that the Chicago Bears were hire Ben Johnson as new head coach.
On Tuesday, it became official. THE The Bears introduced Johnson virtually on social media, then in person at Halas Hall. Johnson made his first public appearance as head coach at Bears headquarters to a warm reception. With general manager Ryan Poles behind him, Johnson entered the lobby as staff lined up to greet him with cheers and applause.
Johnson then addressed the building surrounded by his wife, Jessica, and their three children.
“My family and I are beyond excited,” Johnson said. “This is exactly where we wanted to be. This is exactly where we wanted to be.
“It’s going to be a challenge. I’m well aware of that. I know what this division is about. And that’s exactly where we want to be. We’re going to tackle this thing, and it’s going to take all of us in this piece.
“It’s going to take this locker room. It’s nothing more important than this locker room and us serving this locker room and these players. They have to understand that, they have to feel that from us every day.”
Johnson then promised what has eluded the Bears for so long and what he is now tasked with delivering.
“If we do this, the victories will come,” Johnson continued. “The playoffs are coming.”
Can Johnson turn the Bears into winners?
Johnson directly addressed all of the challenges he will face during his first year in Chicago. The Bears brought up the rear this season in an NFC North that has produced three playoff teams: the Vikings, the Packers and Johnson’s former Lions. Although they have zero wins in the playoffs, there is reason to believe that each of these teams will remain in the playoff race next season.
The Bears slumped from a 4-2 start to a 5-12 record as rookie quarterback Caleb Williams regressed late in the season. Meanwhile, the league’s other rookie starting quarterbacks, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix, thrived to varying degrees as Daniels and Nix made the playoffs. This was added to the firing of head coach Matt Eberfluspaving the way for Johnson’s arrival.
Touted as an offensive genius for the work he did as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, Johnson will need to develop Williams into the quarterback and leader of a perennial playoff team. Anything less than this will be considered a failure.
There is reasonable reason to hope in Chicago that he can succeed. While Williams regressed as a rookie, he also showed the upside that made him the No. 1 pick by throwing 20 touchdowns and six interceptions in his first NFL season. Pairing Williams with a coach hailed as one of the preeminent offensive minds in football is certainly reason enough to stand and applaud in Halas Hall.