The Chicago Bears are one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL right now, and Ben Johnson is one of the most discussed coaches.
While other teams in the NFC North have fallen hard and fast, notably the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, Ben Johnson and the Bears keep pulling off wins, with their latest being a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers to give them an 8-3 record.
Now, the Bears have a test with their Black Friday game on November 28. The team will go up against the Philadelphia Eagles, who also have an 8-3 record. Both teams have a lot at stake, but for the Bears, it seems like this game could pivot them on the road to the championship.
Johnson has done incredible things in just a few months in the Windy City. More than anything, he’s been working closely with franchise quarterback Caleb Williams and developing him into the kind of signal-caller that the Bears have needed for decades. Chicago drafted Williams with their No. 1 overall pick during the 2024 NFL draft, and he’s far outperforming his numbers from last year, based on NFL research.
Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears Gives Credit
So, Johnson has worked magic with Williams, but he’s not taking all of the credit. In fact, he’s not taking much credit. Speaking with reporters this week ahead of the Eagles game, Williams sang the praises of his staff and had strong words for them.
“Our coaching staff, I think they do a really good job of not just coaching the guys that are going to be playing on Sunday, but making sure we’re coaching the show teams as well,” he said. “A guy like (assistant offensive line coach) Kyle DeVan, I see him in that show team huddle every single day and not just to get the right look for our defense, but also to coach up our young offensive linemen to make sure that they’re developing also.”
Johnson added, “I think there’s a balance of that that goes on. I think those guys know that they’re not just here to fill a spot. They also have a big role to play in terms of what we’re doing. When their number is called, they don’t shy away from it.”
Every Chicago Bears Player is Important
Something that Johnson embraces is knowing that every single role on the team is important. There are no weak links, and there are no unimportant players.
“This is what I’m accustomed to,” Johnson told the media this week. “Where I’ve been in the past, this is what happens this time of year. Guys go down and someone else has to step up.”
He added, “The vision has been from the time we ended training camp, that if you’re a special teams player on the 53, be ready to be starting at some point on offense or defense.”
Johnson said that it means “if you’re a practice squad player, be ready to be called up. We’ve tried to develop them over the course of the year.”
So, now, the NFL world will watch the Bears and Eagles game. It’s the only game on Black Friday, so that will put Chicago in the spotlight even more.
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