Ben Johnson, the newly appointed head coach of the Chicago Bears, has already made an impact before the offseason program has even started.

As reported by the New York Times, George McCaskey, chairman of the Detroit Lions, revealed that Johnson is eager to take on his former colleagues—Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell, and Matt LaFleur—in the 2025 NFL campaign.

Previously, Ben Johnson served as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2022 to 2024. He joined the Lions in 2019 and held several coaching roles until last season, gaining deep insight into the team. Before his time in Detroit, Johnson also held various coaching positions with the Miami Dolphins.

Johnson is determined to lead a complete turnaround for the Chicago Bears, who struggled during the 2024 NFL season and ended up in last place in the NFC West, recording only six wins and eleven losses. Their final game of the season was a 24-22 win over the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, the victory came too late, and the Bears failed to make it into the NFL playoffs.

Although Ben Johnson is clearly focused on bringing success to the Bears, it doesn’t guarantee an easy ride for the players—particularly quarterback Caleb Williams. As Ian Rapoport recently noted, Johnson might challenge Williams significantly, who is likely to face a tough first season under the new leadership.

Johnson had a standout run as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, helping create one of the league’s top offenses. Last season, the Lions dominated the NFC North with a 15-2 record. His success with the offense was a key part of their rise to the top.

However, Johnson’s approach might contrast with that of Matt Eberflus, the Bears’ former head coach. Johnson demands immediate effort and results from his players, starting from day one. Caleb Williams could struggle at first, but the effort is expected to pay off in the long run.

During the 2024 season, Caleb Williams threw for 3,541 yards, earned 20 touchdowns, and gave up six interceptions. With Johnson now guiding him, expectations are high that his performance will significantly improve in the 2025 NFL season.