Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson leading intense 2025 practice. [Image Source: ATOZSPORTS]
On August 5, 2025, Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey witnessed a highly intense training session behind Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. The practice was notably physical, with players engaging in live tackling and heated exchanges, signaling a renewed toughness within the team under new head coach Ben Johnson. This vigor reminded McCaskey of the Bears’ strong eras in the 1980s and early ’90s, when the franchise regularly won double-digit games and secured division titles.
McCaskey’s observations reflected the initial fruits of Johnson’s leadership, as the Bears appeared to be reclaiming their identity on and off the field, striving for consistent success.
Ben Johnson’s Immediate Impact on Team Culture and Performance
From the outset of the 2025 season, Johnson made a clear statement that the Bears were ready to contend immediately, refusing to accept a prolonged rebuild. Despite an unpromising start marked by two consecutive division losses, including a staggering 52-21 defeat to Detroit, the team’s resilience grew. Johnson’s message of determination stuck as the Bears rallied to win crucial games, eventually finishing the season at 11-6 and capturing the NFC North title.
McCaskey viewed the temperament shown during practice as a positive indicator, noting,
“They know he knows ball, and they know that he can make them better,”
underscoring trust in Johnson’s expertise.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze praised Johnson’s leadership throughout the year:
Image of: Chicago Bears
“I honestly I feel like I learned from the first time he stepped into the building who he was and I learned who he wasn’t. He’s been consistent throughout the entire season with his goals for us and with his determination and how he leads, where he wants this organization to go. He’s been super consistent with that, so I think that’s something that, honestly, is a great thing. It hasn’t been something that you have to continue to like try and judge or feel out. From the day he stepped in, he wants this organization to be great and he leads by example and vocally and that essence.”
The Bears’ newfound intensity extended well beyond attitude to tangible game outcomes. The team won seven games, including playoff matches, during the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, which earned them the nickname Cardiac Bears. Johnson’s mantra of Good, better, best became a rallying cry energizing both players and fans throughout Chicago.
Breakthrough Season Highlights and Playoff Success
Johnson’s 2025 campaign saw the Bears more than double their win total from 2024, when they finished 5-12. Their 11-6 record secured the NFC North, and the Bears won their first playoff game in 15 years by defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the wild-card round, effectively revitalizing the league’s oldest rivalry.
Johnson himself acknowledged the importance of this rivalry in his decision to remain in the NFC North. The Bears’ ability to triumph over Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s team twice in one season, including the playoffs, was unmatched since 2007 and inspired the roster deeply.
Safety Jaquan Brisker affirmed Johnson’s effect on the team:
“His impact on this team has been great. The way he changed the culture, the way he has been a player’s coach — that’s why you see the players go out and play for him every single time — you’re willing to die on the field for a coach like that and a staff like this. They’re special guys.”
Strategic Offensive Development Under Johnson
Beyond cultural shifts, Johnson instituted a distinct change in the Bears’ on-field approach. Traditionally relying heavily on defense, Chicago improved both offensively and defensively in 2025. The Bears led the NFL in turnover margin for the first time since their Super Bowl-winning 1985 season — also the year they allowed the fewest points and yards.
Johnson significantly advanced the offensive unit, transforming it from one of the league’s weakest in total yards and scoring into a top-nine offense. His collaboration with quarterback Caleb Williams was a critical factor, as Williams set a franchise record with 3,942 passing yards and posted a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio of 27-7, placing him fifth in the NFL.
Williams reflected on Johnson’s leadership:
“He’s been the catalyst for us. To be able to lead us, to be able to stand strong in tough moments and good moments, to be able to show emotion, be able to be who he is and be consistent with that and do what he said he was going to do. He’s been everything that Chicago’s needed as a coach. We’re happy to have him. I’m happy to have him as my coach and what he’s been able to do for me, it’s been unparalleled. I’m excited about that. I’m excited that we’re going to be together, I’m excited about our future, I’m excited about getting back here with him and growing more than I did this year and be able to have games and moments like this many times in our career.”
Recognition and Comparison with Other League Coaches
Johnson’s achievements in his debut season positioned him as a finalist for the NFL’s Coach of the Year award, to be announced at NFL Honors on NBC. Notably, four of the five finalists, including Johnson, were coaches in their first or second year in their roles, highlighting a trend of fresh leadership propelling teams to playoff success. The other finalists were Mike Vrabel of New England, Liam Coen of Jacksonville, and Mike McDonald of Seattle.
The Bears’ successful season was a sharp contrast to frequent coaching changes in recent years. Before Johnson, Chicago had undergone a cycle of four head coaches — Marc Trestman, John Fox, Matt Nagy, and Matt Eberflus — in just over a decade, each arrival promising transformation but often falling short of lasting progress. McCaskey admitted caution but also optimism, feeling the stability and genuine improvement that Johnson brought was different from past transitions.
Resilience and Momentum Through the 2025 Campaign
Following the rough start with consecutive divisional defeats, the Bears demonstrated resilience by stringing together four successive wins and then recovering from a midseason loss in Baltimore with a five-game winning streak. This momentum propelled them into securing the NFC’s second seed and a postseason berth.
Johnson’s influence was profound both on and off the field, altering the team’s identity and instilling a culture driven by belief and mutual accountability. His hands-on approach was evident in the physical nature of practices and the way players embraced discipline and toughness once more.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Bears’ Upward Trajectory
The remarkable turnaround led by Ben Johnson in 2025 has reignited hope among Chicago Bears fans and stakeholders eager for a return to consistent playoff contention. With a dynamic young quarterback in Caleb Williams and a coaching staff that demands excellence, the Bears have laid a strong foundation for future success.
How Johnson leverages this momentum in the coming seasons will determine if this revival becomes a lasting era. For now, the blend of a revived culture, strategic offensive evolution, and playoff breakthroughs signal a promising new chapter for this storied NFL franchise.
