Although Ben Johnson’s current offense runs through the Bears, not the Lions, comparing the two gives a clear picture of how his system evolves in its first season under his direction.
When Johnson arrived at Halas Hall, he made it clear that his offensive approach would be custom-built for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.“This scheme is going to be tailored specifically for him,” Johnson said. “We’re not recycling an old playbook or carrying over what we did elsewhere. We’re tearing it down and rebuilding it with Caleb and the players we have here.”
So, rather than transplanting his Detroit offense, Johnson constructed a new version centered on his young quarterback’s skills.
Recently, he pointed out how Williams’ decision-making and comfort within the structure are improving. He referenced one moment before halftime where the defense shut down the primary read, and Williams calmly worked through his progressions, stepped up, and found his running back.“That’s exactly the type of growth we’re after,” Johnson said. “He’s processing quicker, moving in rhythm, and using his feet to stay on schedule. There are still things to clean up, but he’s starting to grasp what we want out of each look.”
Williams’ accuracy (58.8% in the last game) still needs refinement, yet the offense as a whole continues trending upward.
Some fans have jokingly claimed Tyson Bagent could steer this offense better, but the results say otherwise.
Even though this isn’t a carbon copy of the Lions attack Johnson first built around Jared Goff, the numbers stack up surprisingly well.
Detroit went 9–8 in Johnson’s first year as offensive coordinator. Chicago, sitting at 5–3, faces a tougher stretch ahead, but their offensive performance so far puts them in rare company.
The Bears currently rank fourth in total offense (378.4 yards per game), just behind Dallas. The franchise hasn’t finished this high since 1977, when Walter Payton’s dominance carried the team to third overall.
By most measures, Chicago is either matching or surpassing what Detroit accomplished under Johnson at this stage:
Through the first half of the season, Johnson has earned his players’ complete trust, and the results validate their confidence.
Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus praised his coach’s leadership, saying,“He sets the tone for everyone here. He’s genuine, passionate, and easy to play for because he truly believes in the vision and the purpose we’re building toward.”
