New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson held his introductory press conference on Wednesday morning. Here are 10 key takeaways and impressions.
1. Commanding Presence
Ben Johnson knows how to command a room. His tone, clarity, and detailed responses were incredibly impressive. He communicated with ease and confidence, captivating everyone in attendance.
Ben Johnson.. what an opening presser.
Not sure I've seen a coach command a room the way he just did.
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 22, 2025
2. Core Players Showed Support
Bears offensive stars Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and DJ Moore sat front row, visibly engaged and smiling. Their presence highlighted the players excitement. Always good to see players smiling.
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Ben Johnson fist bumps Caleb Williams on his way to his press conference pic.twitter.com/JQnWVU6K4l
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 22, 2025
3. Direct and Personal Communication
Johnson’s interactions stood out for their intensity and sincerity. When he spoke about individuals like Ryan Poles, Kevin Warren, George McCaskey, Caleb Williams, and DJ Moore, he looked them directly in the eye, showing respect and authenticity. It was impactful without feeling overdone.
4. Authenticity at Its Best
Authenticity is important for a head coach, and Johnson didn’t shy away from being himself. Unlike some previous coaches, his natural charisma and leadership style came across as genuine, which players will undoubtedly respect.
5. Fierce Competitor
Johnson expressed his desire to remain in the NFC North, calling it the best division in football. He openly shared his competitive drive to take on rivals Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell, and Matt LaFleur, which was simply great to hear.
6. Confident and Comfortable
Johnson’s confidence felt like a breath of fresh air compared to former coach Matt Eberflus. While Eberflus was polished at times, Johnson’s belief in his vision and comfort in his role were loud and clear. It’s evident he’s completely at ease being himself.
7. Witty Yet Purposeful
Johnson’s humor shone through, like when he joked about the trick play involving Jared Goff’s fake trip that resulted in a touchdown against the Bears (Ryan Poles admitted he didn’t find it funny at the time). Beyond the humor, Johnson emphasized his intentionality and how he never takes opportunities for granted.
Ben Johnson on the Jared Goff fake stumble play he pulled out against the Bears last season.
Just a great interaction here. pic.twitter.com/49iDrEJOCn
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 22, 2025
8. Embracing the Packers Rivalry
Johnson didn’t hold back on his feelings about Green Bay, saying, “I kinda enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.” This lighthearted jab further endeared him to fans already and showed he understands the significance of the Bears-Packers rivalry.
Ben Johnson on beating Green Bay twice this past season in Detroit.
“I kinda enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
pic.twitter.com/0QXGxQOgCt— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 22, 2025
9. Deep Love for Chicago
Johnson shared that his family has fond memories of visiting Chicago for Cubs games, essentially calling the Bears job the perfect opportunity. George McCaskey revealed that Johnson started and ended his interview by enthusiastically sharing his desire for the role. It’s clear he’s committed to making this team—and city—his home.
George McCaskey said the first thing that Ben Johnson said in his interview was “I want this job.” pic.twitter.com/HJnck9N0gM
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 22, 2025
10. A Perfect First Impression
While it’s just a press conference, Johnson nailed it. His energy, humor, and authenticity set the tone for what Bears fans hope will be an exciting new chapter. It’s hard not to feel optimistic after such a strong showing.
Forgive them my @TGena for they do not know what they do or say. “The Gems” are a laugh and a couple were UDFAs. How much credit does Poles deserve for those players. Good enough to make a team, but not good enough to be drafted.
If you listen to the Red Krayola’s The Green of My Pants, one might understand how and why their thinking is so warped.
@TGena As for gems, how about Braxton Jones, Jack Sanborn, Tyson Bageant, Elijah Hicks, and Terrell Smith. Given that nobody knew who they were at the time, you could also give some credit for finding 2nd rounders, Dexter, Stevenson, and Gordon. We’ll see how Booker turns out, we’ll see if Sewell actually sees the field with the new staff, and Josh Blackwell has been a really solid addition as an UDFA. Free agency had one glaring miss, but pretty much the rest have been okay to solid to great but just as important with free agency is he hasn’t done… Read more »
Bears GMs: Two big wrongs do not make even a tiny right.
I’ll add this, and it’s not to toot my own horn. Everything I said pre-draft about the top 4 WRs, as well as Bowers, came true. Poles and his scouting department should have seen it as well, and it’s disappointing they didn’t.
Well, I wasn’t there, TGenda, so I can’t answer those questions. The story that was floated around this “credible” site was, JF was given 3 WRs and asked which one he would prefer to work with. Speculation. Bates, I would need more information, as it as reported he had an arthritic condition, yet also reported surgery wasn’t an option, so that’s contradicting. I would need to see the medicals. The Kiran pick, I’m actually ok with, except it was forced because he selected a WR in the top 10, which I’ve made it well known, I do not agree with… Read more »