LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — New Bears head coach Ben Johnson was the leader of a prolific attack as the Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, but his playbook isn’t coming over from Detroit.
Johnson plans to rebuild his offense in Chicago by tailoring it to what best fits the Bears' personnel, an approach that's rooted in his belief that an efficient offense must prioritize its players over a particular scheme.
Of course, Johnson will still work with many of the same philosophies that made him successful in leading the Lions’ offense.
“Make same things look different and different things to look the same,” Johnson said Wednesday at his introductory press conference at Halas Hall. “We want the defense on their heels, we are always going to be attacking on offense. We believe in multiplicity, that's both formationally and conceptually. We are going to make things very challenging on the defense each and every week. We want the ability to morph, whether it's 50 runs in a game or 50 passes in a game. It does not matter. Balance to me is throughout the entire season, not necessarily in the game.
“Those are broad strokes of what this is going to look like. It's not going to look like it did in Detroit. We have a completely different personnel group than what we did in Detroit. This entire offense is going to be predicated on the guys that we have available. That's going to take the spring time as well as training camp to hone in what it's going to look like."
The 38-year-old Johnson was hired by the Bears last Tuesday. He was considered the top head coach candidate available in this hiring cycle.
Johnson has enjoyed a rapid career ascension after a humbling experience six years ago. He was dismissed as the Dolphins’ wide receivers coach as the team cleaned house while firing head coach Adam Gase.
Johnson’s career took a step back as he settled for an offensive quality control coaching role with the Lions.
“Truthfully, I was in my darkest moment because something that I loved got ripped away from me,” Johnson said. “I’d invested all time and effort over seven years, three more up at Boston College, and when something like that gets ripped away from you, it makes you search deep in your soul. But, fortunately, an opportunity arose and the good Lord was looking out for me. It’s a little bit of humble pie having to take a step back to start over again and be a quality control coach, but you just trust, you put your head down and you work, and fortunately good things happened.”
Johnson spent just one year in his quality control role in Detroit. He was promoted to tight ends coach in 2020, then passing game coordinator in 2021. By 2022, Johnson stepped in as the offensive coordinator in Detroit.
The Lions ranked first in scoring and second in total offense this past season, Johnson’s third as offensive coordinator.
As he now prepares to lead the Bears, Johnson is ready to build his offense around 23-year-old quarterback Caleb Williams.
"This offense will be calibrated with him in mind,” Johnson said. “We're going to build this thing. This is not simply a dropping of a previous playbook down on the table and starting there. Nope, we're ripping this thing down to the studs, and we're going to build it out with him first and foremost and then with the pieces around him next. I really look forward to challenging him and pushing him.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.