People have long wondered how the Chicago Bears managed to land Ben Johnson. He was widely believed to be the honest candidate on the market. Either that wasn't actually the case, or the organization must've pulled some type of wizardry to get him. Maybe they guaranteed a huge contract or a significant say in personnel—or both. It was just difficult to wrap your head around it. The Bears have never landed the biggest name on the coaching market. Even Mike Ditka and Lovie Smith weren't considered the premium names of their respective cycles.
How then? How did the Bears do it? Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog settled this confusion once and for all. The explanation is simple, if still profound. Johnson wanted to come to Chicago. There is no deeper meaning to it. He loved the city and was further swayed by the Bears' pitch to him, along with the exciting opportunity to work with Caleb Williams. Sure, money was involved, and his influence in personnel decisions is strong. Still, the primary motivation was wanting the challenge of coaching the Bears.
Ben Johnson loves a challenge.
It doesn't take long to recognize how fiery of a competitor he is. Other organizations have plenty of appeal, but there's something unique about Chicago. They have a more storied history, along with two other factors that would've appealed to Ben Johnson. The team hasn't won a championship in 40 years and may have the absolute worst offensive legacy in the modern NFL. Imagine how people would view Johnson as a coach if he not only turns the Bears offense into a powerhouse but also ends the Super Bowl drought. He'd immediately be elevated to the status of the NFL's best coaches. That is something great coaches shoot for. They want to build a legacy that will stand the test of time. Johnson saw that potential path by coming to Chicago.
