LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — When new Bears head coach Ben Johnson addressed his team Monday morning inside the George "Mugs" Halas Auditorium at Halas Hall, his words resonated. Players listened intently, welcoming the new beginning.
As Johnson’s words were heard, his presence was felt. The Bears recognize that change has arrived at Halas Hall.
"I’m like, ‘OK, this guy’s the real deal,’” Bears veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said.
When the Bears introduced Johnson as their new head coach in a press conference on Jan. 22 at Halas Hall, he took a moment during his opening remarks to speak directly to his players. The only four in attendance on that frigid offseason morning were quarterback Caleb Williams, tight end Cole Kmet, receiver DJ Moore and receiver Rome Odunze.
On Monday morning, Johnson spoke to his whole team. He didn’t rehearse a scripted speech, instead opting to speak from the heart.
The Bears lacked leadership in 2024 as their season fell apart with a 10-game losing streak. By the time the Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29 following a disastrous loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, players seemed to have checked out on their coaching staff and each other.
Johnson understood that in accepting the Bears' coaching job, he had to set a new tone as the leader.
“He said it’s a great day and let’s get this thing rolling,” Bears second-year quarterback Caleb Williams said. “He jumped out there and said a bunch of dos, said a bunch of don’ts, set a precedent for what we’re going to be like as a team, finding our identity and all of that. We’re excited. Obviously, we have to put in the work. Can’t be too excited because the work hasn’t been done. But definitely excited for what’s to come and the future.
“(But) we have to do it. It’s something that the time, energy, effort, sacrifice, that doesn’t just mean us putting in time on the board, us putting up time on us being here, working out, lifting, getting stronger, faster. It’s also us hanging out in the offseason, building that bond, so that when times do get tough – because it’s a long season, as I can say now. It’s a long season.
“Being able to build that bond off the field, so when times get tough, we fight through it, we get through it, you know we keep going as a team.”
As the Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past three years, Johnson established a reputation as an innovator. Detroit led the NFL in scoring and ranked second in total offense in 2024 under Johnson's direction.
But Johnson himself has pushed back at the notion that he’s just an offensive guru. Those who were around Johnson in Detroit characterized him as a demanding leader who was eager to push his players.
Johnson certainly established that tenor during his introduction in January, telling his players to “get comfortable being uncomfortable.” The Bears will get a greater sense of what that means when they begin on-field work later in the offseason program. For now, they’re limited to strength and conditioning, meetings and rehabilitation.
Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson was notably present with the Bears as they began their voluntary offseason program this week and jokingly asked reporters if they were surprised he was at Halas Hall this time of year.
During Eberflus’ first offseason program in 2022, Johnson skipped significant portions of voluntary work in order to be with his daughter in California. The Bears temporarily shifted Johnson to their second-string defense, which was either a motivational or disciplinary tactic by Eberflus, depending on one's viewpoint.
Near the end of Eberflus' tenure in Chicago, it was Johnson who raised his voice loudly at Eberflus inside the Ford Field visitors’ locker room following the Bears’ loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving. Eberflus had lost the players’ belief, and change was inevitable.
Now in his sixth season with the Bears, Johnson is working under his third head coach. He has been a part of teams boasting high expectations before, only for the Bears to disappoint. Johnson wants to see his team be about actions more than words.
While the Bears have a renewed hope, they must prove they're indeed different.
“I've been through it too many times, man,” Johnson said. “I'm going to get excited when we win in November and December and when we change some things and get into the playoffs. That's when I'm going to get excited.
“I'll see in camp to start. That's when the real ball will show up. And then really through our season, we'll see. Because things may start off rocky in the beginning and we'll figure it out, and things change throughout the back half or the middle of the season. Or we start off hot and then (crap) the bed.
“It's about winning. And I feel like I we go out there and we win on Sundays, and I'll feel good about everybody.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.