(670 The Score) At his introductory press conference Wednesday, new Bears head coach Ben Johnson stated his immediate goal while also getting in a quip about the rival Packers.
“Our mission, starting this spring, is to win and to win now,” Johnson said.
Johnson was introduced at Halas Hall two days after he reached an agreement to become the new Bears head coach, a deal that came together quickly after Johnson’s Lions were eliminated in a loss to the Commanders in the NFL divisional round Saturday. Johnson had worked in Detroit for the past six years, including as the Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons.
In making his first impression in Chicago, Johnson cited 23-year-old quarterback Caleb Williams as a driving factor in why he chose the Bears when he also had significant interest from the Las Vegas Raiders and others. Johnson also vowed to install an offensive system that will cater to the strengths of Williams and the Bears’ personnel.
“It’s clear that modern football in the NFL is quarterback-driven,” Johnson said. “That is no secret. You can look at analytics. Right now, quarterback success is a higher predictor of winning and losing than turnover ratio, which it’s been for 20-plus years. That’s changed. There’s no doubt Caleb played a large component into my decision. He is a phenomenal talent that had, as many quarterbacks do, an up-and-down rookie year. Where I see my role is as a supporter of him. This offense will be calibrated with him in mind. 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 up with him (in mind) first and foremost and then with the pieces around him next. I really look forward to challenging him and pushing him to continue to grow and to develop.”
As he further detailed what went into his decision, Johnson also expressed his desire to remain in the NFC North and then took a light jab at the Packers. The Lions went 5-1 against the Packers in the past three years as Johnson called the offensive plays in Detroit.
"I wanted to stay in this division,” Johnson said. “I know that this is the toughest division in football right now. There’s three teams that made the playoffs this year. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and the players in this (division), having competed against them for the past six years. Dan Campbell and Kevin O’Connell, you’re talking about two guys that are up for Coach of the Years awards as the season ends here. And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Johnson called the Bears a “sleeping giant” as they come off a disappointing 5-12 season that began with playoff expectations but spiraled into head coach Matt Eberflus being fired on Nov. 29.
“This roster is absolutely loaded with talent already, and I look forward to building it with you,” Johnson said.
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