LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — A year ago Thursday, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and several of his teammates sat in the front row of a large conference room inside Halas Hall and listened as new head coach Ben Johnson was introduced.
Johnson shared a message while looking at Williams and his teammates — “Get comfortable being uncomfortable,” he said last Jan. 22. The Bears embraced that in following Johnson’s lead through their breakout 2025 season.
The Bears won the NFC North crown by going from worst to first in the division with an 11-6 mark in the regular season, then followed that up by beating the rival Packers in the wild-card round for their first playoff victory in 15 years. The Bears' often-improbable run ended Sunday night with a heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to the Rams in the divisional round.
In reflecting on the season, Williams and the Bears held an appreciation for all that Johnson meant to the organization in his first year on the job.
“He’s been the catalyst for us,” Williams said. “To be able to lead us, to be able to stand strong in tough moments and good moments, to be able to show emotion, be able to be who he is and be consistent with that and do what he said he was going to do. He’s been everything that Chicago needed as a coach. We’re happy to have him. I’m happy to have him as my coach and what he’s been able to do for me – it’s been unparalleled.”
The Bears struck an agreement with Johnson last January less than 48 hours after the Lions lost to the Commanders in the divisional round. He was officially introduced two days later.
The Bears went 5-12 in 2024, firing head coach Matt Eberflus late that November amid a long losing streak that eventually reached 10 games. Johnson then guided the franchise to a tremendous turnaround in his first season in Chicago.
After the loss to the Rams, Johnson reminded his Bears that they'll have to earn everything all over again next season. What followed was a theme of Johnson’s first year on the job – his players reiterated his message.
“I don't think you can ever really count on, ‘Oh, we'll just do it next year,’” Bears veteran center Drew Dalman said. “Certainly it sucks to come up short and you know the opportunity that you miss out on. But I think that's one of those things, like, we gave everything we had and you got to come back at it again next year and hope that with increased effort, increased focus, all those things that you'll push past that.”
Johnson is a candidate for the NFL Coach of the Year award, though Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel – who has led his team to the AFC Championship in his first season as the head coach in New England – is considered the favorite to earn the honor.
The Bears know well what Johnson meant to them in their breakthrough campaign. They’re thrilled to have him on their side moving forward.
“I’m excited that we’re going to be together,” Williams said. “I’m excited about our future. I’m excited about getting back here with him and growing more than I did this year and be able to have games and moments like this many times in our career.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.