Excitement surged around the Chicago Bears last year when the organization hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as its new head coach. That enthusiasm only grew after Chicago delivered a first-place finish this season and made a surprising run into the postseason.

In a piece for the Chicago Tribune, reporter Sean Hammond broke down the key elements behind the Bears’ dramatic transformation under Johnson’s leadership.

Hammond explains that Johnson’s impact was immediate. From his first day at Halas Hall, his high-energy approach, meticulous preparation, strong commitment to building trust with his quarterback, and emphasis on resilience helped reshape the team’s culture. Those qualities were on full display during Chicago’s historic wild-card victory over the Green Bay Packers, which marked the largest postseason comeback the franchise has ever recorded.

According to Hammond, Johnson set the tone from day one with a straightforward message delivered in the Halas Hall lobby: the locker room mattered above all else. He stressed that everyone in the organization needed to be fully invested in supporting the players.

Johnson believed that if the team prioritized that mindset, success would naturally follow.

“If we take care of the locker room,” Johnson said, “the wins will come. The playoffs will come.”