Anyone remember Matt Eberflus’ postgame victory speeches? Not likely.
There weren’t many of them to begin with. New Bears coach Ben Johnson already has won more games at 9-3 than Eberflus did in any of his three seasons on his way to a 14-32 record and a quick firing.
When they did win, though, the speeches were drier than reheated Thanksgiving turkey. Eberflus typically would go back over his pregame checklist in a manner far less captivating than the boisterous rallies Johnson has been leading.
Eventually all of Eberflus’ messages, good or bad, lost their flavor altogether. The liveliest the locker room got under his watch was at the end, when the Bears were in open revolt at Ford Field last Thanksgiving.
The vibe is vastly different under Johnson. He’s been the electricity the Bears’ badly needed. Not only did he come in as one of the best offensive play-callers and quarterback teachers in the game, but his personality gave the organization a personality it had lacked since firing Mike Ditka in 1993.
Everything about this team is running better than it has in years. The offense is cohesive and organized. Caleb Williams is being coached, not coddled. No one’s had to rant about clock management. There’s an insistence on precision in practice and games. The team has been rewired with determination, instead of dread that it’s going to follow history and fall apart.
All of that totals up to the Bears standing 9-3, their best record through 12 games since 2010, and leading the NFC North as they charge toward a return to the playoffs.
Their 24-15 win over the Eagles on Friday shifted all the playoff math in their favor. The New York Times, ESPN and NFL Next Gen Stats had them as basically a coin flip before that, but now all three have them between 60% and 79% and ahead of the Lions.
There’s evidence everywhere that Johnson was ready to step into this job, and that mostly speaks to his intellect. But the way he has communicated from the day he moved into the head coach’s office at Halas Hall helped him get a key piece in place: Player buy-in.
“He had better credentials than [Eberflus] coming in, so there was immediate respect,” one player said. “[Eberflus] did some things well, but there’s a much better global understanding of the job with Ben.
“When he presents to the group, it’s very clear and all business.”
Johnson has struck a seemingly perfect tone. While Eberflus’ talks came off as monotonous lectures and Matt Nagy before him bordered on high-schoolish, Johnson hits the sweet spot of seriousness and exuberance.
He’s intense at all times, good or bad, and some players like wide receiver DJ Moore mentioned early in their time with him that he was difficult to figure out.
It’s become much clearer: he’s full-go, always. If Johnson sees something he doesn’t like on the practice field, he’s all over the players about it. If he sees something he loves, like cornerback Nahshon Wright’s strip of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on a Tush Push and the Bears’ dominant running game in a road win over the defending champion Eagles on Friday, he’s just as loud.
He explained his approach in an August interview with the Sun-Times, saying, “It can be construed as being overly critical at times, but … I [also] embrace those moments when you can speak up and pat guys on the back and say, ‘Hey, when we’re doing it right, look how beautiful this is and how it all comes together.’”
That’s what he’s doing in the victory speeches, and it’s obvious how much the players love it. Each one starts with anticipation as players wait for him to explode with, “Hell yeah,” and dive into the highlights.
“Man, I’m so proud of you guys,” Johnson yelled Friday. “You played your best ball for 60 minutes. Well done.”
He handed out a game ball to Wright — “Shonny you played from [expletive] good football,” Johnson said to roaring applause — and one to the entire offensive line, which sent the team into a frenzy, after running backs Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift combined for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’ve got a couple backs that ran their asses off, but let me tell you something: It does not get done without this offensive line,” Johnson said as he handed the ball to right guard Jonah Jackson and called the rest of the starters up.
Jackson told the team, “Put it on our back. That’s how we want it,” and closed with, “Let’s get ready to take on Green Bay.”
That’s next, both the schedule and metaphorically in Johnson’s climb as coach. The Bears visit Lambeau Field on Dec. 7, and they haven’t won there in a game that had stakes for both teams since 2015.
They can worry about that another time. Keeping the Bears focused on the present is another of Johnson’s strengths. They worked too hard to win in Philadelphia to move on that quickly.
“I know you guys are hungry for more, right?” Johnson said. “Let me tell you something: The City of Chicago is hungry, too.”
Then he tore off his shirt, a response to Lincoln Park hot dog stand The Wiener’s Circle’s offer to do a giveaway if he did, and flexed, and everyone went crazy. Safety Jonathan Owens put Johnson’s hat back on him backward as he walked off the music went to full volume.
This is what the Bears have been missing. They have a coach who is equal parts tactician and leader. They have wins. And, finally, they have excitement again.
