Ben Johnson has a real-life high school sweetheart story that even country music star Chase Rice admits he’s a little jealous of. The Chicago Bears head coach once “stole” Rice’s middle school dance date — and years later, married her. Here’s how it all happened.
How Ben Johnson Met His Wife Jessica
Even though Rice once called Johnson the “best coach in the league,” 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. 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,” Rice tweeted back in 2024.
Quick Momma/Son date up to Detroit. Proud as hell for my middle school through college QB Ben for Killin it all these years. 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. How bout them 12-1 @Lions pic.twitter.com/Qb3IGBqr9V
— Chase Rice (@ChaseRiceMusic) December 7, 2024
Though Johnson is a South Carolina native, he played quarterback at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, N.C. — his future wife Jessica’s hometown. Jessica and Ben started dating in high school, and she’s been his biggest supporter ever since, following him to the University of North Carolina.
When Johnson made the unconventional choice to jump straight into NFL coaching in 2012, without ever playing a down professionally, Jessica stayed by his side. In 2014, they tied the knot. Today, they’re raising three children together: Emory, Kennedy and Halle.
Johnson’s 16-year coaching journey has mostly kept him in two cities: Miami (2012–2018) and Detroit (2019–2024). Those stops became home for the Johnson family, especially Detroit. So when the Bears offered Ben his first head coaching job, the decision to move to Chicago wasn’t easy, especially for a family with deep roots.
“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.'”
The move to Chicago was a big one, but it’s already paying off.
“The best thing we could’ve done is to have [the kids] come with us this week, and now they’re completely engulfed in what this place is about. We couldn’t be happier.”