LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WGN) — Ben Johnson provided clarity at Halas Hall Wednesday because it was clear to him where he wanted to be — in Chicago as head coach of the Bears.
As the most sought-after head coaching candidate this offseason, Johnson made it clear three reasons drove his decision to come to Chicago: (1)The city itself, where every summer for the last ten years, he and his family have taken a trip to see a Cubs game, (2) the roster general manager Ryan Poles already has in place, and (3) wanting to stay in the NFC North.
“Walking in this building yesterday gave me goosebumps. I don’t think many people understand how set up for success this place already is,” Johnson said. “This facility is outstanding. It is an A-plus facility and I look forward to meeting all the people within this facility and getting to work.”
Johnson’s introductory presser included all the familiar faces of the Bears front office over the last several years, but the setting was different from previous head coaching introductions.
The now former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator was introduced in the PNC Center this time around, as opposed to the Mugs Auditorium where the team introduced the likes of Matt Eberflus, Matt Nagy, John Fox and so on.
Bears brass was also in much lighter spirits than they often were during the regular season leading up to this moment.
President and CEO Kevin Warren joked about how he saved a note from a drink that was passed to him at a restaurant that read, “Please hire Ben Johnson.”
Team chairman George McCaskey noted how Johnson opened his interview with, “I want this job” and finished the interview with, “Did I tell you I want this job?”
Former No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams was another major selling point in bringing Johnson to Halas Hall. Williams was happy he wasn’t being pranked again when he heard the news.
“I was driving on the highway, I don’t know if it was safe or not, but I gave out a loud yell and scream of just excitement,” Williams said. “It brings a bunch of clarity to the offseason. I’m really excited about the Bears and keep Ben Johnson as our couch for a long time.”
On Johnson’s end of things, he sees the opportunity to work with Williams as one that will demand a relationship be built between the two where Williams can see the offense from the playcaller’s point of view — the only way he’s ever known as offense to successfully operate from coaching staff to quarterback.
Johnson also said the playbook he developed in Detroit will be thrown out the window as he and his offensive coaching staff look to build around a group of guys that is different from the men he coached while with the Lions.
“This offense will be calibrated with him in mind. We’re going to build this thing. This is not simply a dropping of a previous playbook down on the table and starting there. Nope,” Johnson said. “We’re ripping this thing down to the studs and we’re going to build it up with him first and foremost. Then with the pieces around him next, I really look forward to challenging him and pushing him to continue to grow and develop.”
Although he never took an in-person interview before accepting the job, Johnson said all of his questions about the Bears front office alignment were answered during the interview process and that he’s excited to work “in lock-step” with Poles to build a playoff team, which he believes isn’t far away.
“There’s no question it can happen in 2025,” Johnson said. “It depends on how hard we are willing to work and how much we are willing to sacrifice.”