The Chicago Bears had a reputation for decades. They couldn't find great head coaches. Sure, they would occasionally land on a good one like Mike Ditka or Lovie Smith, but neither of those guys ever gave off Hall of Fame vibes. Things really hit rock bottom over the 15 years as they endured Marc Trestman, John Fox, Matt Nagy, and Matt Eberflus in a decade-long span. You could understand why fans were skeptical that the organization had the wherewithal to find somebody with the credibility and drive to elevate this organization to true success. Then Ben Johnson walked into the building.
Everything about his hiring felt right. He'd had three full years of nonstop success as an offensive coordinator in Detroit. He'd been in full control the entire time. There was no ambiguity about who called the plays. This was a top-of-the-line coaching candidate who was young, intelligent, and ready for his opportunity. The Bears made their interest clear, paid him a big contract, and closed the deal. Now they're 10-4 and knocking on the door of the postseason.
Colin Cowherd of The Herd admitted that the Bears may have just pulled off the best coaching hire since the Rams scored Sean McVay eight years ago.
If Ben Johnson is the next McVay, you can't overstate how big that is.
People must remember the impact McVay had in Los Angeles. They went 11-5 in his first season, with former #1 pick Jared Goff blossoming into a Pro Bowler. The next year, the Rams were in the Super Bowl. His first five years were marked by winning seasons, culminating in a Super Bowl championship in 2021. That level of consistent success is something only great head coaches typically accomplish. If that is what the Bears have with Ben Johnson, they're about to enter an era they haven't seen in 40 years.
It is too early to outright say Johnson is on McVay's level. He needs a few more stripes before having that conversation. That said, his immediate impact can't be denied. Johnson has transformed a broken and dispirited franchise into one of confidence and purpose. Caleb Williams is ascending at quarterback. The offense is putting up points like it hasn't in years. Everybody is committed to the cause, and it all starts at the top. Johnson is everything that was promised and more.
