Ben Johnson has completely transformed the Chicago Bears’ franchise since becoming their head coach. The Bears are set to play the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round, and their head coach has another chance to show everyone that he belongs in the elite tier of coaches in the NFL.
While Johnson has found major success on the field, his off-field story is just as compelling. It even involves a bit of real-life lore that country star Chase Rice has joked he is still jealous of. Johnson once “stole” Rice’s middle school dance date and, years later, married her.
Details on How Ben Johnson Met His Wife Jessica
Even though Rice once called Johnson the “best coach in the league,” during the latter’s tenure with the Lions, he hasn’t let go of a middle school memory.
“Proud as hell for my middle school through college QB Ben for killin’ it all these years,” Rice posted on X back in 2024. “I’m still mad he stole my middle school dance date from me and married her, but it was great to see you too, Jessica.”
Although Johnson is originally from South Carolina, he played quarterback at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, North Carolina, which also happens to be his wife Jessica’s hometown. The two began dating in high school, and she quickly became his constant support system. That continued when Johnson attended the University of North Carolina, with Jessica following him through each step.
When Johnson made the unconventional decision to move directly into NFL coaching in 2012 without ever playing professionally, Jessica remained by his side. The couple married in 2014 and now have three children together: Emory, Kennedy, and Halle.
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Before arriving in Chicago, Johnson lived in two places: Miami from 2012 to 2018 and Detroit from 2019 to 2024. Detroit, in particular, became home for the family, and that history made the move more difficult when the Bears offered Johnson his first head coaching opportunity, as relocating to Chicago meant uprooting a family with deep personal ties.
“It was emotional,” Johnson said. “That place had been so special to my family. It’s hard for a mother to want to uproot her kids when they were really thriving in that location. It’s a hard thing to deal with. I know she was feeling emotional, and I’m so grateful that she had the understanding and the ability to say, ‘Hey, I trust you and I’ll go along with you.'”
However, the move to Chicago has turned out to be successful for Johnson. In his first season, he led the Bears to an 11-6 record in the regular season and won the NFC North. They also defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round, and the Bears’ future with Johnson looks bright.
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, the Bears have the 10th-ranked offense in the league, but the unit will continue to get better with time.
