Opinions Of Ben Johnson Inside The NFL Are Even Higher Than You Think — With One Big Wrinkle
Ben Johnson arrived with plenty of fanfare in January of 2025. Everybody knew he’d had great success with the Detroit Lions as their offensive coordinator. What nobody knew was whether he could duplicate that in Chicago without all the talent the Lions had. Never mind the fact that he’d have to do it while also being the head coach of an organization that had been stuck in the cellar for years. They got their answer within a calendar year, as Johnson not only went 11-6 and made the playoffs but also gave Chicago its first top-10 offense in over a decade.
The Bears were must-watch television, both for the product on the field and Johnson’s epic post-game speeches. It became clear the media loved him, but was that opinion shared by those inside the NFL? Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron received confirmation of this during Super Bowl week.
The media and league couldn’t be higher on Ben Johnson. He’s in the elite class of offensive minds. I think in many people’s minds, he’s already catapulted ahead of guys like Kevin Stefanski and Kevin O’Connell. Andy Reid isn’t really mentioned in those conversations anymore. These days, he’s the godfather of NFL offense. Everybody knows he’s great, but until we see the Chiefs’ offense recover, he’s going to be pushed a little aside.
The conversation of elite minds is Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, and Ben Johnson. That seems to be the big 3, and I think if you asked most folks there, they would give you that list.
Keep in mind, McVay and Shanahan have combined to reach four Super Bowls since 2018 and make the playoffs almost every year. If Johnson is in that category, the Bears are in great shape. However, Zimmerman did add one wrinkle to the widespread praise. It seems Johnson is respected, but not exactly liked.
I do think there’s a good chance that the Bears become the heels of the NFL. There really isn’t a villain in the league right now like the Cowboys in the 90s and the Brady/Belichick Patriots. Now, obviously, those teams won championships before they became the villains. The Bears may not wait that long. Johnson is highly competitive, and you can still tell that Williams rubs some people the wrong way. It would not surprise me if the Bears become that role thanks to Johnson and Williams.
Ben Johnson doesn’t seem to mind the villain role.
He embraced it from the outset, stating at his introductory press conference that he enjoyed beating Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur twice a year. From there, it just kept growing. There was the shirtless celebration against Philadelphia. Or the unforgettable ‘F**k the Packers!’ after beating them in the wild card round. Then you just have Johnson’s aggressive overall approach to the game. He never takes his foot off the gas. It is always go for the kill. That type of approach will rub people the wrong way.
Then again, it’s not like teams cast in the villain role don’t have success. In fact, some of the most hated teams in NFL history also won a lot of games.
| Team | Villain reason | Results |
| 1970s Oakland Raiders | Highly physical, often dirty, and cheated | Super Bowl XI champs |
| 1990s Dallas Cowboys | Arrogant mentality and lots of arrest scandals | 3x Super Bowl champs |
| 2000 Baltimore Ravens | Best player was charged with murder | Super Bowl XXXV champs |
| 2010s New England Patriots | Spygate and Deflategate scandals | 3x Super Bowl champs |
This isn’t the movies or books. In sports, villains don’t always get their comeuppance. Instead, their talent and confidence are rewarded with plenty of success. Johnson understands this reality, which is probably why he doesn’t feel inclined to play the typical soft-spoken, classy head coach to the media. His goal is to win football games and step on your neck while doing so. Care to know another iconic head coach known for the same thing?
George Halas. Don’t expect Johnson to apologize for this approach. If being the villain is what it takes, he will embrace it.