Every head coach has a goal upon arrival at their new position. Lovie Smith said he wanted to be Green Bay, and Matt Eberflus desired to change the culture. It is always interesting to hear how these men are wired because it offers insight into how they'll approach the locker room. Ben Johnson was no different. He learned a lot in those years he spent with the Detroit Lions, taking them from a perennial bottom-dwelling franchise to a legitimate contender. No doubt he got some great advice from Dan Campbell.
Johnson was asked what his primary goal for the Bears this upcoming season was. It wasn't to fix the culture like Eberflus tried to or to elevate quarterback Caleb Williams. No, his mission is much simpler: win. This Bears team will be tasked with winning immediately this season. The rebuild is over. No more excuses. If you're on this team just to collect a paycheck, don't expect to be around much longer.
Ben Johnson is a competitor.
Patience isn't in his DNA. He aims to win now and feels this roster is good enough to accomplish that. He's not entirely misguided. Seven of the Bears' 12 losses were against eventual playoff teams, and five of those losses were by six points or less. They were in every game, but it always seemed like something would go wrong. It was the Hail Mary in Washington, the blocked field goal against Green Bay, and the blown timeout against Detroit. Coaching was a primary catalyst for those disasters. Ben Johnson believes he can correct those issues. Together with another strong infusion of talent this off-season, the Bears are well-positioned to challenge the hierarchy in the NFC. This is exactly what many in the locker room want to hear. Enough with the platitudes. Put somebody in charge who is single-minded about winning. Chicago may have their guy.
