Some experts weren't sure about the Chicago Bears hiring Ben Johnson. It wasn't that the young offensive coordinator didn't deserve the job. Quite the opposite. He was the best head coaching candidate of the entire cycle. The issue they took was the fit. Johnson made his name in Detroit, coaching a traditional quarterback in Jared Goff. He was a heady player who operated mostly from the pocket. Caleb Williams was completely different. He is that new type of player, like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, who seems to operate best off-script.
It was wondered if Johnson's offense could account for that. Also, there were questions about whether Williams was prepared for the coach. Johnson had a reputation for being demanding. He is intense and harps on details constantly. Some players don't like that. It is particularly hard on quarterbacks because of all their responsibilities. However, according to Adam Jahns of CHGO, the locker room has a deep appreciation for what Johnson is doing.
“Everybody’s going to get coached up,” said receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who previously played for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. “It doesn’t matter who you are. That’s a big thing. (He’s) holding everybody accountable, not just certain players or certain people, and overlooking certain things. Like (shoot), even I got yelled at. Everybody’s going to get yelled at. Not even yelled at, but it’s more so it’s like, held accountable. But you know he will yell at you. You need that.”
The feeling is that this approach is perfect for Williams.
Jonah Jackson watched Johnson operate in Detroit for two years. He saw Jared Goff, a former Pro Bowler, get the same treatment. The coach doesn't care what you did before. It's about what you will do and whether it's done the right way.
“He’s a veteran player, and if you’re not being coached, you got to be worried,” guard Jonah Jackson, who spent three seasons with Goff and Johnson in Detroit, told CHGO. “He coached him tough, but he coached him in a manner that brought him along and developed him into the guy he is now. I feel like the same is for Caleb.”
“Nobody got away with anything,” Jackson said. “There was no shortcuts, whether you were an eight-year, nine-year vet or a first-year guy. Everybody was coached the same way. He takes pride in keeping everybody accountable and people taking accountability in themselves and their work. And it’s great for us.”
Ben Johnson won't be beholden to his quarterback.
That was the mistake Matt Eberflus made. You can't be afraid to coach all of your players. Yes, quarterbacks are the most important, but they're still just one player. Head coaches must be the ones who set the vision for an organization and lay down the law. There is never an example in history where a team run exclusively by players did anything. Ben Johnson knows he must be the commanding voice in everything. He's the big dog. The buck stops with him. He's making sure the players understand that. This isn't about being popular or becoming liked. It is about respect. The Bears don't have to like Johnson. They must respect his word and do what he asks of them. It is no different with Williams.
History is full of examples of quarterbacks and head coaches who had less-than-harmonious personal relationships. Yet their mutual respect still led to success.
- Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll
- Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon
- Bill Walsh and Joe Montana
- Tom Brady and Bill Belichick
- Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy
There is no reason to think it can't be the same for Johnson and Williams.
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