Ben Johnson is the real reason Bears fans can believe in 2025

Hope. It’s not a word that’s been thrown around too often in Chicago Bears circles over the last decade. From failed quarterbacks to fleeting playoff appearances, fans of the Monsters of the Midway have learned to temper expectations. But something feels different heading into the 2025 season. And no, it’s not just Caleb Williams.

It’s Ben Johnson.

Yes, Williams is the franchise quarterback — a former No. 1 overall pick who was supposed to be the Bears’ answer to decades of offensive mediocrity. But if last season proved anything, it’s that even the most naturally gifted quarterback needs structure, play design, and coaching that maximizes his strengths. Williams’ rookie year was rocky, inconsistent, and at times hard to watch. The flashes were there, but so were the growing pains — and former head coach Matt Eberflus didn’t do him any favors.

That’s why this offseason was more than just about adding talent. It was about reshaping the identity of the Chicago Bears. And that identity now runs through one man: Ben Johnson.

As Bleacher Report pointed out, “Over the last three seasons, Johnson helped create one of the league’s most explosive and dynamic offenses as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator.”

That’s not just a throwaway line. What Johnson did in Detroit wasn’t some fluke. He turned Jared Goff — cast aside by the Rams — into a top-10 quarterback again. He made Detroit’s offense fun, balanced, aggressive, and incredibly hard to defend. Now imagine that same creativity being paired with the raw talent of Caleb Williams, a revamped offensive line, and young, explosive weapons like Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III.

This isn’t the Bears of old. This isn’t John Shoop calling HB dives on 3rd-and-8. This isn’t a head coach punting from the opponent’s 38-yard line. This is a Bears team being led by a modern offensive mind. And for the first time in what feels like forever, the Bears have a head coach who wants the offense to be the engine.

There will still be bumps. Williams is only entering his second season. The defense needs to hold up its end of the bargain. But if you’re a Bears fan and you’re not feeling something different in the air, you’re not paying attention.

Johnson doesn’t just bring playbooks — he brings purpose. He brings an identity. And that’s been missing from Halas Hall since, what, Lovie Smith? Even then, the offense was mostly along for the ride. Not anymore.

Ben Johnson was the hire. The one that changes the arc of a franchise. That’s not hyperbole — that’s what happens when you bring in someone who understands how to build an offense around his quarterback instead of trying to cram that quarterback into some outdated scheme. This is the first time in decades that Chicago feels like it’s caught up with the rest of the NFL.

So yes, Caleb Williams may be the face of the franchise. But Ben Johnson is its beating heart. And if you’re a Bears fan hoping for a winning season in 2025, don’t just pin your dreams on the guy wearing No. 18.

Pin them on the guy holding the clipboard.