Chicago Bears: Was Hiring Ben Johnson The Right Call?
CHICAGO BEARS: WAS HIRING BEN JOHNSON THE RIGHT CALL? — JANUARY 29, 2025 — The Chicago Bears began the 2024 campaign with a 4-2 record heading into their bye week and looked to be on the verge of contending for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, early-season success gave way to an all-to-familiar reality as the team lost its next 10 games and finished the season with a 5-12 record.
During that excruciating 10-game losing streak – the second such streak in three seasons – the team opted to part ways with Matt Eberflus. This is noteworthy because it was the first time in franchise history that a coaching change was made during the middle of the season.
Although Chicago beat the Green Bay Packers in the season finale, there was little to be excited about going into the offseason. Then it happened: after interviewing numerous candidates to fill the head coaching position, the Bears hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Was this the right move for Chicago? Can Johnson transform this roster into a playoff team?
Let’s look at the tale of the tape to find out.
The Good
In 2021, the Lions averaged 19.1 points per game. The following season, when Johnson took over as the OC, Detroit jumped to fifth in this category, averaging 26.6 points per outing. The Lions finished fourth in total offense, eighth in passing yards, and 11th in rushing yards. The following season, Detroit placed fifth in points per game (27.1). Additionally, the Lions ranked third in total offense, fourth in passing yards per contest, and fifth in rushing yards.
The 2024 campaign was arguably Johnson’s best season in the Motor City. The Lions led the NFL in scoring, averaging a whopping 33.2 points per game. The team finished second in total yards (409.5), second in passing yards (263.2), and had the sixth-best ground game (146.4 YPG).
Through the first six years of his career, Jared Goff accumulated two 4,000-yard seasons (2018 and 2019). However, he exceeded this threshold each of the last three seasons under Johnson. He also completed 72.4 percent of his passing attempts last season, marking a career-best for the ninth-year quarterback.
Based on the numbers, Johnson made his mark during this three-year tenure in Detroit. Now, here’s a snapshot of what the Bears’ new head coach will be stepping into.
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The Bad
While the Lions have been in the postseason tournament the last two seasons, Chicago has not enjoyed the same level of success. In fact, the Bears have missed the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons and have advanced to the playoffs only twice over the past decade.
Even more significantly, Chicago finished above the .500 mark only once during that stretch. That anomaly occurred in Matt Nagy’s first season in 2018. The Bears went 12-4 that season and have not won more than eight games since.
Unlike the team that Johnson left in Detroit, the Bears offense was pedestrian last season, and that’s being generous. Let’s start with scoring. Chicago averaged 18.2 points per game, good enough for 28th in the league.
As far as total offense? Well, Chicago’s 283.5 yards per outing was dead last. The team’s aerial attack (or lack thereof) was almost non-existent, putting up just 181.5 yards per outing. This was the second-worst mark in the NFL. Chicago ranked 25th in rushing yards, averaging 102 yards per contest. It is also worth mentioning that the Bears are the only franchise that has not had a quarterback finish with 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a season.
The lone silver lining is that Caleb Williams had a decent rookie campaign. He threw for 3,541 yards with 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions. On the other side of the narrative, he was sacked a league-high 68 times.
Final Analysis
Following a season in which they produced just five wins, the consensus within the local media outlets is that the Bears made the right decision in hiring Johnson as their next head coach. To be objective, though, it should be noted that the last time Chicago brought in an offensive-minded coach—Matt Nagy in 2018—he went 22-27 over his final three seasons after a 12-4 start.
In addition to Johnson’s arrival, other reasons for optimism include the Bears’ $66 million in cap space and three selections in this year’s NFL draft. If the Bears can acquire additional talent and improve their offensive line play, the outcome “could” be vastly different from what we have witnessed the past few seasons.
Whether Johnson can transform this roster into a playoff team in Year 1 and beyond remains to be seen. However, what is certain is that there is a strong belief that the offense will be noticeably better with Johnson at the helm.
