Next Level Alert: Ben Johnson’s Expertise Poised to Transform These Bears Offenders into Superstars
The Chicago Bears are getting ready to enter into an exciting new era of the franchise led by a promising young head coach and a promising young quarterback.
It seems like those two rarities are aligned together in Chicago for the first time in years, which already brings a lot of excitement for the 2025 season and beyond.
Ben Johnson is going to be an immediate difference-maker for this team and most importantly the offense. This guy could arguably be the best play-caller in the league next year and can help unlock some of the young stars on the Bears’ offense. Here are 5 players who should be able to reach a whole new level with Johnson as head coach.
TE Cole Kmet
Cole Kmet had a frustrating 2024 season with the Bears. He still managed to end the season with the best reception percentage of his career (85.5) and yards-per-target (8.6) but the overall production was a sharp drop off from what he had in 2023.
In many games this season, Kmet was a complete non-factor in the offensive game plan, which was inexcusable given his talents and connection with his quarterback.
With the Lions, Ben Johnson didn’t have a productive tight end until the Lions drafted Sam LaPorta. In 2022 when Johnson was hired by Detroit, T.J. Hockenson and Brock Wright both finished with under 400 receiving yards. The next year, LaPorta exploded as a rookie recording 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. Even in 2024 LaPorta still managed to record 726 yards and seven touchdowns. Seeing Kmet in that kind of role is going to be exciting to watch and huge for getting his career back on track.
WR Rome Odunze
Seeing how Johnson works with DJ Moore will be important to watch considering the Bears used their top weapon in vastly different ways in 2023 and 2024. But I’m more interested in how he uses Rome Odunze going into his second NFL season.
In terms of being a contested catch machine and big play guy, Odunze will be something Johnson has never worked with before. In Detroit, his top two WRs were a high-volume short-yardage Amon-Ra St. Brown and a speedy downfield threat in Jameson Williams. Odunze offers Johnson something neither player could ever offer.
Odunze’s continued connection with Williams will also give him a push to have a higher role in 2025. This guy was always on the money late in games when the Bears needed someone to make a play. I’m juiced to see what Johnson can unlock in him.
RB D’Andre Swift
This is a guy Johnson’s worked with before back in 2022 and used him as a complementary back to Jamaal Williams. Johnson also wasn’t afraid to use Swift in space out of the backfield. In Swift’s first season with the Bears, Chicago wanted to use him as the lead back, giving him a career-high 253 carries.
I don’t think he will be used in that same way again with Johnson calling the offense. I firmly believe the team’s new head coach will look to add a new back to the room that can handle the majority of the load, allowing Swift to stay fresh and explosive to hit on the big plays more consistently. That’s the kind of usage that fits his game best.
RT Darnell Wright
Johnson is probably ecstatic knowing he’s going from one team with a mauler at right tackle in Penei Sewell to a team that has another one at the position in Darnell Wright, even if the team will likely have to replace the rest of the offensive front.
Wright has the potential to be among the top players at the position and enter that conversation as soon as this season. He still has some issues to iron out but overall he finished his sophomore season as PFF’s fifth-highest graded right tackle behind Zach Tom, Sewell, Brian O’Neill, and Lane Johnson.
Wright improved his run and pass blocking in Year 2 and cut down on the number of penalties when compared to his rookie season. He can reach that Sewell level under Johnson’s guidance and if the Bears pair him with a real upgrade at right guard.
QB Caleb Williams
Let’s not try to big-brain this. Ben Johnson is going to be exactly what Caleb Williams needs to take the next step and enough with this “Caleb doesn’t fit the offense Jared Goff ran in Detroit” nonsense.
Ben Johnson is one of the best offensive minds for a reason, do you really think for a second that he’s going to bring the exact same offense he tailored for Goff’s strengths over to Chicago with no adjustments to Williams’ game? I mean come on.
Johnson will have the entire offseason and summer to build his new offense around what works and what doesn’t work for Williams. That means more in rhythm and on-time play designs that actually build upon each other. What he’s going to cook up with Williams is going to be night and day from what we saw in 2024.
