Ben Johnson's been working years for this. And now, for the first time since his NFL rise as an offensive coordinator in Detroit, and joining the Bears in January ...he'll make his career debut as a head coach ...when his Bears tangle with the division rival Vikings tonight.
"I feel comfortable going into this thing," Johnson says. I'm surrounded by a lot of really good people- I can't stress that enough. The coaching staff is top notch. It is just the next step and everyone's got a first time for everything so this will just be the first time I'll be a head coach in the regular season."
He's got a million things on his plate. But one main duty; evolve the Bears and especially their offense from a (5-12) team into a contender.
And his top pupil is quarterback Caleb Williams, who enters year two with his third Bears play-caller, but still has best bud, receiver Rome Odunze at his disposal.
"Rome has been great. The consistent, open communication we have between each other, and his growth, and him as a player, his confidence, his belief in himself and 'when the ball is in the air it's his' has grown. I trust him with full belief and full faith that if I throw the ball to him it will be caught or at the least it will be incomplete."
Coming off a 20 touchdown, six interception, 68 sack rookie season, Williams has three new offensive lineman; Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson to protect him.
Nine spots after Williams was picked #1 last year, the Vikings took QB JJ McCarthy, who missed year one with a knee injury, and finally makes his NFL debut this evening. Technically, he's a rookie.
"We have to create that rookie mistake," says veteran safety Kevin Byard. "We don't want to give him an easy test. You don't want to just line up in a coverage so that the (Vikings) offensive coordinator and the head coach is just telling him what to do, 'hey, this is what they're playing.'"
Byard and the Bears defense will try to disguise and rattle McCarthy with different looks and pressures. But the team might not have defensive back Jaylon Johnson, who's questionable with leg issues, after only being cleared to practice last week.
"We win. We play good. Everybody gets paid." Johnson says. "That's just how it all goes together. For me, I'm trying to win. Coaches are trying to win. That's all it's about.
Johnson and fellow DB's Kyler Gordon and Josh Blackwell are injury question marks tonight. So is RB Roschon Johnson.
JOshThe Bears are hovering around 1-1/2 point underdogs in tonight's season opener with the Vikings at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football.