Ben Johnson (American football coach)

Last updated

Ben Johnson
BenJohnson2025.jpg
Johnson with the Chicago Bears in 2025
Chicago Bears
Title Head coach
Personal information
Born (1986-05-11) May 11, 1986 (age 39)
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school A. C. Reynolds (Asheville, North Carolina)
College North Carolina (2004–2007)
Position Quarterback
Career history
  • Boston College (2009–2010)
    Graduate assistant
  • Boston College (2011)
    Tight ends coach
  • Miami Dolphins (2012)
    Offensive assistant
  • Miami Dolphins (2013–2015)
    Assistant quarterbacks coach
  • Miami Dolphins (2015)
    Tight ends coach
  • Miami Dolphins (2016–2017)
    Assistant wide receivers coach
  • Miami Dolphins (2018)
    Wide receivers coach
  • Detroit Lions (2019)
    Offensive quality control coach
  • Detroit Lions (2020–2021)
    Tight ends coach
  • Detroit Lions (2021)
    Passing game coordinator
  • Detroit Lions (2022–2024)
    Offensive coordinator
  • Chicago Bears (2025–present)
    Head coach
Awards and highlights
Head coaching record
Regular season11–4 (.733)
Coaching profile  at Pro Football Reference

Benjamin David Johnson (born May 11, 1986) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). His NFL coaching career began as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2012, coaching quarterbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers. Johnson later joined the Detroit Lions in 2019, rising to offensive coordinator in 2022 and leading the team to a top-five offense in every season, including the top-ranked during the 2024 season.

Contents

Early life and college

Johnson was born in Charleston, South Carolina on May 11, 1986. His father, Don Johnson, was a high school principal who coached at Idaho State University and The Citadel, and his mother Gail Johnson, was a middle school teacher. [1] [2]

He attended and played quarterback at A. C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, North Carolina. His junior year, he helped lead the team to a North Carolina 4A state championship, and as a senior, was named conference player of the year. [2] [3] Johnson graduated in the top five of his high school class. [2]

Johnson was a walk-on for the Tar Heels at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2004 to 2007, where he competed as a reserve quarterback. [4] He graduated in 2008 with degrees in mathematics and computer science. [2] [5]

After college graduation, Johnson spent a year outside of football, working instead as a software developer in Durham, North Carolina for the company eTeleNext. [6] [7]

Coaching career

Boston College

Inspired to get into coaching by his offensive coordinator at UNC, John Shoop, Johnson was hired as a graduate assistant for the Boston College Eagles in 2009. [1] He was promoted to tight ends coach in 2011. [8]

Miami Dolphins

Johnson was hired as an offensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins in February 2012. [9] He was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach in 2013 and was promoted to tight ends coach in 2015 under interim coach Dan Campbell after head coach Joe Philbin was fired following a 1–3 start. [10] Johnson was retained by new head coach Adam Gase, named assistant wide receivers coach in 2017 and promoted to wide receivers coach the following season. [11]

Detroit Lions

Johnson was hired as an offensive quality control coach for the Detroit Lions in 2019. [12] He was promoted to tight ends coach in 2020 and was retained after Dan Campbell was named head coach in 2021, following the firing of Matt Patricia. [13] [14] The same season, he would be promoted to pass game coordinator after Anthony Lynn was stripped of play-calling duties following an 0–8 start. [1]

Johnson was promoted to offensive coordinator in February 2022, [15] receiving head coaching interest by the end of the season after leading the Lions to a top five offense with eight games over 30 points, a single-season franchise record. [5]

He remained in Detroit for the 2023 season, despite being heavily pursued by the Carolina Panthers, [16] in which the team finished third in total offense, won the division for the first time since 1993, and defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24–23 in the Wild Card Round to win a playoff game for the first time since 1991. [17] The Lions would later defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round to advance to the 2023 NFC Championship Game, but ultimately lose to the San Francisco 49ers. [18] [19] In both the NFC Divisional Round against the Buccaneers and the NFC Championship against the 49ers, Johnson's offense put up over thirty points and over 100 rushing yards. On January 30, 2024, Johnson announced he would be returning to the Lions despite being considered a prime head coaching candidate for both the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. [20]

During the 2024 season, Johnson called the league's top ranked offense (33.2 ppg) and set multiple records, including most 40 point games without any turnovers, (5) and achieving the highest PPG in franchise history. [21] The Lions had six games scoring at least 40 points, and became the first team in NFL history to produce four different players with 1,000 scrimmage yards, with two wide receivers and two running backs. [22] [23] The Lions secured the top seed and a bye week in the playoffs, but lost in NFC Divisional Round to the Washington Commanders. [24]

After the regular season, Johnson interviewed with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, and New England Patriots for their vacant head coach positions. [25]

Chicago Bears

On January 21, 2025, Johnson was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, replacing Matt Eberflus. [26] He hired Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator and named Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator, while retaining Eberflus' special teams coordinator Richard Hightower; Allen had caught Johnson's interest when he was the New Orleans Saints head coach, while Doyle's role was to help him strategize a game plan. [27] Antwaan Randle El and J. T. Barrett also followed Johnson from Detroit as assistant coaches. [28] [29]

Johnson began his Bears tenure with back-to-back losses, blowing an 11-point lead to the Minnesota Vikings and losing 52–21 in his return to Detroit. [30] [31] He recorded his first win in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, whose defense was coached by Eberflus. [32] A Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns made him the third Bears head coach to win ten or more games in his first season. [33]

Head coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
CHI 2025 1140.733TBD in NFC North
Total 1140.73300–

Coaching philosophy

Johnson cited his offensive scheme as being influenced by Kevin Rogers, Darrell Bevell, Adam Gase, Clyde Christensen, Mike Martz, and John Shoop. [1]

He has been described as a "perfectionist" who prioritizes attention to detail. [34] Offensive lineman Jonah Jackson, who played for Johnson with the Lions and Bears, noted that "everything he does is very detailed and meticulous". [35]

During the 2025 season, Johnson adopted a post-game victory celebration in which he leads the Bears in the following chant: "Good, better, best! Never let it rest, until your good gets better, and your better is best!" [36] He learned the mantra at A. C. Reynolds High School, where it has been a team motto since 1994. [37]

Personal life

Johnson is married to his high school sweetheart Jessica, with whom he has three children. [38]

He is a fan of the Chicago Cubs. [39]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rogers, Justin (September 4, 2023). "Unraveling the many influences on Ben Johnson and the Detroit Lions' offensive scheme". The Detroit News . Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ben Johnson – Football". goheels.com. North Carolina Tar Heels. 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ Birkett, Dave (February 17, 2022). "How 'uncommonly bright' Ben Johnson became rising coaching star, Detroit Lions OC". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  4. ↑ Eberly, Keaton. (January 21, 2025). New Chicago Bears head coach possesses strong ties to North Carolina. CBS17.com. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Woodyard, Eric (September 28, 2023). "The rise of Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  6. ↑ Eberly, Keaton (January 21, 2025). "New Chicago Bears head coach possesses strong ties to North Carolina". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ Pace, Lee (April 10, 2024). "Extra Points: Numbers Game". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  8. ↑ Rankin, Kim (January 20, 2025). "Report: Chicago Bears Hiring Former Boston College Football Staffer as Head Coach". SI.com. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  9. ↑ Cuadros, Mario. "Miami Dolphins Offseason: Dolphins Complete Coaching Staff". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ Miami Dolphins [@MiamiDolphins] (October 7, 2015). "We have made the following coaching staff changes: Ben Johnson will serve as tight ends coach" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Wine, Steven (January 19, 2018). "Dolphins hire Dowell Loggains as offensive coordinator". Associated Press. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  12. ↑ Schlitt, Erik (September 10, 2019). "Report: Lions hire Ben Johnson as offensive quality control coach". Lions Wire. USA Today . Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  13. ↑ Reisman, Jeremy (February 25, 2020). "Detroit Lions finalizing coaching staff, shifting Ben Johnson to TE coach". PrideofDetroit. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  14. ↑ Schlitt, Erik (January 28, 2021). "Report: Detroit Lions to retain TE coach Ben Johnson". Lions Wire. USA Today . Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  15. ↑ Birkett, Dave (February 7, 2022). "Detroit Lions hire TEs coach Ben Johnson as new offensive coordinator". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  16. ↑ Risdon, Jeff (February 15, 2023). "Ben Johnson explains why he turned down head coaching interviews to stay in Detroit". Lions Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  17. ↑ Jhabvala, Nicki (January 15, 2024). "The Lions trusted Jared Goff. He repaid them with a historic win". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ Lage, Larry (January 21, 2024). "Jared Goff throws 2 TD passes, Lions advance to NFC title game with 31-23 win over Buccaneers". AP News. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  19. ↑ Dubow, Josh (January 29, 2024). "Brock Purdy, 49ers rally from 17 points down, beat Lions 34-31 to advance to Super Bowl". AP News. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  20. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (January 30, 2024). "Sources: Ben Johnson nixes head-coach jobs to stay with Lions". ESPN.com. Walt Disney Company. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  21. ↑ "2024 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2024 Detroit Lions Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  23. ↑ McCarriston, Shanna (December 31, 2024). "Lions make NFL history: Detroit becomes first team to accomplish this feat in victory over 49ers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  24. ↑ Lage, Larry (January 19, 2025). "Jayden Daniels and the Commanders stun the top-seeded Lions 45-31 to reach NFC title game". AP News. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  25. ↑ Cronin, Courtney (January 20, 2025). "Bears hire Lions OC Ben Johnson as new coach". ESPN . Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Bears hire Ben Johnson as head coach". Chicago Bears. January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  27. ↑ Cronin, Courtney (January 26, 2025). "Source: Bears to hire Declan Doyle as OC, Dennis Allen as DC". ESPN.com . ESPN . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  28. ↑ Lieser, Jason (August 13, 2025). "Bears' Ben Johnson, J.T. Barrett part of crew working to get Caleb Williams immersed in offense by Week 1". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  29. ↑ Pendleton, Mike (March 2, 2025). "Ben Johnson describes importance of Antwaan Randle El's role with Bears". USA Today . Bears Wire. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Ben Johnson loses 1st game with Chicago as Bears blow fourth-quarter lead against Vikings". FoxSports.com . Fox Sports. AP. September 9, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  31. ↑ Lage, Larry (September 14, 2025). "Bears fall to 0-2 under Ben Johnson in loss to Lions, Caleb Williams has another uneven performance". WLS-TV . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  32. ↑ Lieser, Jason (September 21, 2025). "Ben Johnson brings magic back to Soldier Field as Bears roll Cowboys 31-14, Caleb Williams throws 4 TD passes". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  33. ↑ Ong, Eli. "Bears blast Browns on the frozen tundra of Soldier Field for Ben Johnson's 10th win" . Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  34. ↑ Smith, Michael David (August 5, 2025). "Bears' Dayo Odeyingbo: Ben Johnson is a perfectionist, demanding, and what we need". ProFootballTalk . NBC Sports . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  35. ↑ Fishbain, Kevin (August 22, 2025). "What makes Bears coach Ben Johnson's attention to detail different" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  36. ↑ Nazemi, RC (November 28, 2025). "Fired up Ben Johnson goes bonkers in 'Good Better Best' speech". The Sporting News . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  37. ↑ Nguyen, Tina (December 16, 2025). "'It's kind of catchy': How 'Good, Better, Best' traveled from A.C. Reynolds to the Chicago Bears". WFLD . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  38. ↑ Galizia, Joseph (January 22, 2025). "Who is Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson's wife Jessica? The crazy story of how they met". The Athlete Lifestyle On SI. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  39. ↑ Koval, Andy (January 22, 2025). "Cubs, WGN were early Chicago connections for Ben Johnson". WGN-TV . Retrieved December 21, 2025.
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