As one of the youngest on the NFL head coach’s list, Ben Johnson is already charming his way into the hearts of Bears fans. Johnson’s hire in January flooded fans’ expectations of Chicago finally making it to the Super Bowl, or at least the playoffs.
Johnson’s first task off his list should be redeeming their 5-12 record from 2024. It seems that the Bears head coach is at it as he made a strong statement with his surprise appearance.
Ben Johnson Makes a Surprise Appearance at the Blackhawks Game
The Bears head coach was in attendance at the United Center on Sunday to cheer for the Blackhawks as they dominated the Flyers to score a 7-4 win. The NHL team has a special ritual of featuring someone special right before the first puck drop on “Sound That Horn.”
Johnson’s appearance with his family on “Sound That Horn” made the fans erupt into a round of applause, signaling how appreciated he is among the fans.
BEN JOHNSON IN DA HOUSE🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/kbI8squY6B
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks)
This appreciation stems from the sky-high expectations of maximizing the 2024 NFL draft’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams’ potential. Despite a shaky offense, the QB tallied 3541 passing yards for 20 touchdowns with just six interceptions. In other words, a blockbuster rookie season numbers for a team that had one of the worst offense in the 2024 season according to PSFN’s Offense+ metric.Â
That hope is heightened by Johnson’s offense at Detroit being the best in the nation as per Offense+. Following a Lions-like strategy in Chicago should bring out the best from Williams and their redefined offense.
Johnson’s strategy to turn the Bears around hinges largely on Williams and he is doing everything to ensure that goes smoothly. Locking in the Super Bowl-level veteran guard Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, for example, was a move toward that goal.
Chicago’s 2025 NFL Draft pick would be another interesting thing to get the team closer to their aim. Best bets are on Johnson picking someone who further bolsters the offense for their QB and becomes a core long-term anchor in the Bears’ new era.
The Bears are best believed to add a running back in the First Round, given how severely that department underperformed in 2024. Boise State star Ashton Jeanty would be Johnson’s preference if it comes to that.
Other than that the team could also go for an edge rusher, a position that they desperately need to address to strengthen their pass game.
Ranked No. 33 in PSFN’s QB rankings, the 2025 season under Johnson would be a pivotal point in determining Williams’ success trajectory.
