New Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson put on a show while meeting with the media on Wednesday at Halas Hall. I’ve highlighted some of my favorite parts from his introductory press conference and added some fords for proper framing, depth, and context. I hope you enjoy!
Ben Johnson wastes little time throwing shade at the Packers
The first zinger of the new-look Bears-Packers rivalry was thrown by Ben Johnson. Take a look and listen:
— Ari M (@AriMeirov) January 22, 2025
Words from the new Bears head coach (video via ESPN’s Adam Schefter):
โI know this is the toughest division in football right now. Thereโs three teams that made the playoffs this year. Iโve got tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and the players in this league having competed against them for the last six years. Dan Campbell, Kevin OโConnell, you’re talking about two guys that are up for coach the year awards as the season ends here. And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.โ
On the one hand, I realize that three Bears head coaches have amassed just two wins against the Green Bay Packers since this site was launched in January 2017. Matt Nagy beat the Packers in December 2018 in Year 1 as a head coach, but never defeated them again. Thomas Brown took down Green Bay in Week 18 earlier in January in what was his first (and only) meeting against the Wisconsinites as a head coach. So I can understand why some would think it would be wise for Ben Johnson to pump the brakes. Especially since Matt LaFleuer is 11-1 against Chicago’s football team since taking over for Mike McCarthy.
But on the other hand, I appreciate a coach who is confident enough to put himself out there and throw some bulletin board material on Day 1 at his new gig. Considering his recent run of success against Green Bay, I can understand why Ben Johnson would be willing to do so. Here’s hoping the new Bears coach can walk the walk after talking the talk. Go get ’em, tiger.
“I felt like this place was a sleeping giant”
One thing that impressed me about Ben Johnson’s press conference was how he talked about the situation he was walking into in Chicago. Things haven’t been great for the Bears in recent years. And the results haven’t been pretty since the team made the playoffs twice in the first three years of the Nagy regime. But I do not believe it is as bad as the record has indicated. This isn’t to say that Johnson has an elixir that can magically fix things. But I do believe that the ball can get rolling in the right direction under the guidance of a new leader.
With that being said, this quote suggests a brighter future is ahead:
โGoing into this season, I felt like this place was a sleeping giant.โ pic.twitter.com/3dlMncBV8w
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 22, 2025
More from Johnson:
โGoing into this season, I felt like this place was a sleeping giant. To be honest with you, I personally was more concerned about the Chicago Bears than I was anybody else in this division. Now, thereโs a number of reasons why that did not unfold, which, thatโs why Iโm here. Iโll get to the bottom of that, and weโll see if we canโt get that corrected and cleaned up. But I was very encouraged with what was already on the roster right here. And like I said before, this division, as hard as it is, really excited about competing here.โ
Johnson also mentioned how he and the Lions struggled with the Bears defense in 2023. There wasn’t much of a struggle in 2024, particularly in the second game of the head-to-head matchup. So I can understand why Johnson came off the way he did. Ultimately, hearing Ben Johnson praise the Bears roster makes me feel better about my stance that this team should have been better than it was … but wasn’t (in large part) because of the coaching staff in place.
Other notable quotes
- On alignment: โTo me, I talked about alignment last year when I came back to Detroit. And that was really important to me to see that the structure setup was conducive to winning. All those questions were answered throughout the interview process. The guys in front of me right there, George (McCaskey), Kevin (Warren), Ryan (Poles) โ I believe in them. And I really believe that we will be able to turn this place around.โ
BEN JOHNSON SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO HIS TEAM
- On Ryan Poles: โThereโs some shared history there. Thereโs a lot of connections that may or may not have already been put together that people understand. I truly believe in the character and integrity of this man. In terms of true alignment, youโre going to have to talk to the powers that be here. They can fill you in on that structure. But we are going to be locked at the hip and connected every step of the way with all the decisions that are made.โ
BEN JOHNSON SAYS “WE’RE RIPPING THIS THING DOWN TO THE STUDS“
- More on the roster: “We’ll evaluate the whole roster. I have not watched all the tape. But I have a good feel from game planning against this defense, and certainly seeing the crossover tape from the offense, that I feel really confident about the current talent level already in the building.”
IT’S JUST A PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT THAT WAS WILDLY IMPRESSIVE
- What was the interview process like? โThe interview process was excellent for me. Answered all the questions I was looking forward to. And not to mention the family atmosphere that they clearly outline was a huge selling point as well.โ
Watch Ben Johnson’s introductory press conference
Overall, I came away impressed with how new Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson presented himself. There was clarity and conciseness in his words, which is something I truly appreciate. But there was also an air of confidence. I realize that press conferences can be taken with just a grain of salt. But I also understand that first impressions are of the utmost importance. I do not find myself trying to make an excuse for why the coach sounded the way they did. And I am not spending time trying to rationalize how this could work. That is a refreshing change. More, please.
For Ben Johnson’s full press conference, you can watch the video below: