Happy official Ben Johnson Day to all who celebrate. Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the Chicago Bears officially hiring Johnson as their next head coach, a decision that would immediately begin paying dividends at Halas Hall and Soldier Field.
Johnson left the Detroit Lions to lead the Bears in hopes of resurrecting the franchise while also getting the most out of quarterback Caleb Williams. In just one year, Johnson successfully accomplished both goals.
The moment Johnson walked into Halas Hall, where he was greeted by a standing ovation from the team employees, you could tell things would finally be different—and they were. The Bears went from cellar dwellers at 5-12 to winning the NFC North for the first time since 2018 with a record of 11-6. Johnson had his team ready to play a physical nature of football while designing an offense built for Williams, the 2024 No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Williams elevated his play under Johnson, throwing for over 3,900 yards and 27 touchdowns in the regular season.
The team’s calling card, however, became their penchant for winning close games at the very end. Chicago had an NFL record seven comeback victories after training in the final two minutes. That preparation and resolve can be attributed to coaching. That’s the type of mentality Johnson brought to Chicago as he overhauled the culture immediately. From grueling training camp practices to the big stage on Sunday Night Football, the Bears played with an intensity that is hard to match. And it all took place within one year of Johnson’s hiring.
Year 2 of the Johnson era has more challenges and raised expectations, but the Bears coach has successfully raised the bar in prior stops even while having a target on his back. With Williams, plenty of young talent, and a culture that has bought in to his message, Johnson is in great shape to build on the 2025 success.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: One year ago, the Bears hired head coach Ben Johnson
Reporting by Brendan Sugrue, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
