Ben Johnson had a huge impact in his Chicago Bears debut in the 2025 NFL season. Not the least of which is establishing a winning culture within the franchise.
This is evidenced by the seven comebacks and a 10-plus-win season with the Bears. Chicago ended the regular season with an 11-6 record and won the NFC North.
The Bears also tallied their first playoff victory since 2010 by surging past the Green Bay Packers, 31-27, in the NFL wild card round.
This achievement made Johnson the third Bears coach to win more than 10 regular-season games in their debut. The win against the Packers also made the 39-year-old coach the first in Bears history to win a playoff game in his first season with the franchise.
Tom Brady names Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson as top coach in NFL
It is then not a surprise that NFL legend Tom Brady named him as one of his LFG Coaches of the Year pick. The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback included Johnson in what turned out to be a four-way tie for Brady’s pick for best coach in the NFL.
“Ben Johnson in Chicago, [what] a ridiculous year. How he taught Caleb [Williams] the offense he wanted to run, play to the skill sets of the guys was insane,” the three-time NFL MVP said.
Brady’s other picks are New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel, Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald and Jacksonville Jaguars’ Liam Coen.
As for the coaches that did not get his nod for the prestigious award, Brady has this to say, “All you coaches, get your asses back to work… The season’s over, and the 2026 season’s underway.”
Johnson started his football career as a college walk-on quarterback for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
He then transitioned to coaching, spending seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He served as a highly regarded offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions from 2022 to 2024 before becoming head coach of the Bears.
Chicago eventually bowed to the Los Angeles Rams, 20-17, in the NFL divisional round.
Brady announced his choice days ahead of the 15th NFL Honors slated for Feb. 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California.
Chicago Bears rookie catches Tom Brady’s attention
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