Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was a “Coach of the Year” award finalist in his first season with the team, leading them from worst-to-first, an 11-6 record, an NFC North title and the franchise’s first postseason win in nearly two decades. The Bears appear to finally have found their long-term head coach.
Coming off the success of the 2025 season, all eyes will be on Johnson’s squad as they look to retain their division crown and make a repeat trip to the playoffs in a competitive NFC North. It certainly helps that he has a talented young offense featuring third-year quarterback Caleb Williams and his array of weapons, including tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III and running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
Chicago will need to have impressive success if Johnson repeats his bid for NFL’s “Coach of the Year.” But NFL analyst Jason La Canfora predicted that Johnson will not only earn the nomination but win it in his second season, especially if Williams plays up to his “MVP” potential.
There were some skeptics a year ago about whether the supposed wunderkind coach could make an immediate impact … And man did he. His work with Caleb Williams put a lot of nonsense to bed about that QB’s ability and leadership and we suspect he takes another leap this season. The Bears also should have a better offensive line, and more bite on defense.
Johnson commands a room, has won this group over and the staff is largely back; they lost non-playcalling offensive assistant Declan Doyle to the Ravens but that’s not going to hold Johnson back. This is his baby and the Bears have a chance to be the top seed in the NFC. What they did in crunch time wasn’t just dumb luck.
And if he has Williams playing to the level expected – “Caleb will be an MVP candidate,” the personnel exec said – that’s going to further boost Johnson’s spot.
While most NFL analysts believe the Bears will take a step back in 2026, La Canfora is doubling down by saying they have a chance to be the top seed in the NFC. If Chicago is going to have an opportunity to do that, the offense (which was top-five last season) needs to take another step forward and the defense needs to do their share. But with Johnson leading the charge, it’s hard not to believe they don’t have a chance to make another postseason run.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL analyst predicts Bears’ Ben Johnson will win ‘Coach of the Year’
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
