The Chicago Bears have found their head coach of the future in Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson has accepted the head coaching position with the Bears, where he will work alongside standout quarterback Caleb Williams to revitalize the struggling offense.
The Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams now have their leader. After a crushing loss to Johnson and the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, Chicago decided to part ways with head coach Matt Eberflus. As the offseason began, the Bears immediately focused on hiring a new head coach. This was a pivotal decision for the team, as they look to unlock the full potential of Caleb Williams at quarterback.
Johnson’s Success in Detroit The Detroit Lions’ offense has been explosive over the past two seasons. This year, the Lions led the league in points, averaging 33.2 per game, and ranked second in yards, with 409.5 per game. Under Johnson, Detroit has been dominant both through the air and on the ground. Last season, the Lions ranked fifth in points per game with 27.1 and third in yards with 394.8 per game. Even in 2022, the Lions boasted one of the league’s best offenses, ranking fourth in yards per game at 380, while also finishing fifth in points per game with 26.2. All these impressive offensive performances were under Johnson’s guidance as offensive coordinator.
Johnson played a key role in Jared Goff’s transformation. Goff, who had been seen as a question mark after being traded to Detroit for Matthew Stafford, thrived under Johnson’s system. In 2022, Goff threw for 29 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with 4,438 yards. He followed that up with an even stronger 2023 campaign, posting 4,575 yards and a 30-12 TD-INT ratio. This year was arguably the best of his career, with 4,629 yards, 37 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a remarkable 72.4% completion rate. These successes highlight Johnson’s ability to develop and elevate quarterbacks, a trait that likely made him an appealing candidate to work with Caleb Williams in Chicago.
How the Bears Offense and Caleb Williams Will Improve Under Johnson The Chicago Bears offense was one of the worst in the league last year, averaging just 284.6 yards per game, the lowest in the NFL. They also averaged only 18.2 points per game, underscoring the need for an offensive-minded head coach. Despite these struggles, Caleb Williams showed glimpses of brilliance, throwing for 20 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. He also amassed 3,541 passing yards and 489 rushing yards. One of Williams’ weaknesses is holding onto the ball too long, leading to numerous sacks. However, many of these sacks were not his fault.
Chicago Still Faces Challenges While Johnson will undoubtedly improve the Bears’ offense and continue to develop Williams, the team still faces significant obstacles in its quest for success. The Bears’ offensive line was a major liability this season, as Williams faced an alarming 28.2% pressure-to-sack rate. Although Williams demonstrated impressive mobility, the Bears must upgrade their offensive line to ensure long-term success with both him and Johnson.
What to Expect in Year 1 In Johnson’s first season as head coach, we can expect noticeable improvement from the Bears’ offense. He has proven himself as a brilliant playcaller in Detroit, and Williams is a generational talent at quarterback. The Bears also have weapons around Williams, such as receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. If the team can improve its offensive line, a playoff push is possible. However, if the line continues to struggle, the team’s potential for improvement will be limited.
