One of the biggest changes to the NFC landscape heading into 2025 is the appointment of Ben Johnson as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Not only does it give the potential future of the franchise Caleb Williams a new lease on life, but it has also taken away the mastermind behind the electric Detroit Lions offense.
But, joining a team that is coming off a wildly disappointing year with a rookie quarterback that didn’t meet the expectations coming in brings with it a unique challenge for Johnson. It already led to a photo of the former offensive coordinator of the Lions going viral. And in an interview with the NFL Network, he addressed the dramatic change he’s gone through.
Ben Johnson Explains Chicago Bears Transformation
For those in the unknown, a photo of Johnson from two separate press conferences has gone viral, showcasing the radical change he’s gone through, both in terms of his looks and what seems to be his general mood.
However, speaking to the NFL Network, Johnson sounded like his usual jovial self as he explained the reason behind the change in looks. “Listen, I feel great, I feel great. It’s just – I don’t sleep very much – But so goes life.”
“We’re gonna set that bar high, and push toward it each and every day.”
Ben Johnson is setting a new standard for the @ChicagoBears organization, striving for success. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ryu1T98A0T
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 1, 2025
So far, the Bears have already made some quick changes since Johnson took over. Their offensive line, which was seen as a major reason for their struggles last year, has gone through a major overhaul.
Adding Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman gives the team some veterans on the front line and potentially offers Williams better production. However, for the new head coach in the Windy City, those changes are only the beginning as he tries to set a new standard with the Bears.
“It’s a completely different year. I know last year didn’t go the way a lot of them wanted it to go. But we’re gonna start fresh, we’re gonna keep the standard very high for them. We’re gonna set that bar high, and we’re gonna push toward it each and every day.”
A 4-2 start fell apart to the tune of 10-straight losses for Chicago, starting with a Hail Mary courtesy of Jayden Daniels. It completely derailed the season and ended what many were hoping would be an exciting year for the franchise.
However, with a new head coach in place, the offense should see a ton of improvement, especially over their finish as the third-worst offense on PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
The team will be hoping Johnson can replicate his success with the Detroit Lions, who had the best offense in the league last year, while Jared Goff finished second on PFSN’s QB+ metric, light years ahead of Williams at 33.