Ben Johnson
Head Coach, Chicago Bears (CHI).
Quick Facts
- Role: Head Coach
- Team: Chicago Bears (CHI)
- NFL experience: Not listed
- Coaching tree: see Coaching Trees
Background
Ben Johnson was named Head Coach of the Chicago Bears on January 21, 2025, becoming the 18th full-time Head Coach in the franchise's history. In his first season as Head Coach of the Bears, Johnson led Chicago to an NFC North Division title and 12 total wins, including 11 in the regular season. Johnson became the first Head Coach in franchise history to win a postseason game in their first year at the helm, as his 12 victories tied for the most by a first-year Head Coach in the history of the Chicago Bears.
2026 Outlook
NFL defensive coordinators ranked Ben Johnson the 3rd-best offensive play caller in football, behind Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. A survey by ESPN's Ted Nguyen asked current defensive coordinators to anonymously rank the best offensive minds. Johnson was ranked first overall by at least one defensive coach and no lower than 4th on any survey — a remarkable consistency that positions him in a clear tier alongside Shanahan and McVay. (per Ben Johnson Named the 3rd-Best Play Caller by NFL DCs. - Windy City Gridiron)
2026 scoring ambitions: Johnson is setting historically ambitious goals for the Bears offense, not just winning championships but breaking the NFL scoring record. He stated he wants to surpass the 2013 Denver Broncos' 37.9 points-per-game average — the highest-scoring season ever in NFL history. Johnson told The Athletic: "You've got 31 other teams coming to training camp saying, 'Our goal is to win the Super Bowl.' I want more than that. I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever." He's also pursuing a 21-game consecutive win streak (NFL record set by Belichick's Patriots) and an undefeated season, targeting not just playoff success but historical records. (per Ben Johnson wants Bears to set NFL scoring record in 2026)
Scheme & Fantasy Angle
As head coach, Johnson oversees a Chicago offense that posted strong scoring numbers in his debut season, setting the tone for the unit's fantasy outlook and the development of QB Caleb Williams.