Ben Johnson is in his first season as head coach, not just of the Chicago Bears, but in the NFL. He also has one of the most polarizing rosters. But that is not exactly new to Johnson, who spent the last six years with the Detroit Lions. There, he coached tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Hockenson, now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, the Bears’ Week 1 opponent, remembers his time with Johnson fondly.
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson Gets Real About Bears HC Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson Made Early Impact on T.J. Hockenson With Lions
Hockenson, in his second full season with the Vikings after a trade in 2022, has a strong “bond that lasts to this day” with Johnson, his position coach during his first Pro Bowl season in 2020.
He spoke more recently about the impact that Johnson had on his early career.
“I love Ben,” Hockenson told the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer in comments published on August 31. “He helped me a ton as a young player in this league. I remember him being a quality control guy my first year and we’d meet every day during special teams. He’d explain offenses and defenses to me. He’s a guy that made a huge impact and someone that will always be super meaningful in my life.”
The two joined the Lions in the same season, 2019. Johnson was an offensive quality control coach who came from the Miami Dolphins in the NFL and Boston College, the alma mater of Bears general manager Ryan Poles, at the collegiate level.
Hockenson, a first-round pick by the Lions that year, sent congratulations when his former eventual offensive coordinator received a promotion with his move to the rival Bears.
The Bears hope Johnson has a similar impact with their two tight ends as he had with Hockenson and current Lions youngster Sam LaPorta.
Ben Johnson Doubled Down on Strengths With Bears
Johnson was hired to course-correct 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams (and a historically moribund Bears offense) after orchestrating the NFL’s highest-scoring offense over the past three seasons in Detroit, per Stathead.
However, the most common title the rookie head coach has held in his career has been “tight ends” in some capacity. He has coached the position four different times in 16 years.
That includes all three of his stops: BC, Miami, and Detroit.
In Chicago, Johnson gets Bears rookie first-round pick Colston Loveland, the No. 10 overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft. Loveland is the second-highest-drafted tight end the Bears have taken, behind only Hall of Famer and franchise icon Mike Ditka.
Johnson also has 2020 second-round pick Cole Kmet, who turned 26 in March, at his and Williams’ disposal. Both tight ends have offered rave reviews of their new commandant.
The Bears are expected to lean heavily into 12 personnel this season.
That is one running back – more often than not, D’Andre Swift – and two tight ends. So, Kmet and Loveland will share the field. TE3 Durham Smythe is also an underrated pass-catcher in addition to his blocking proficiency.
They have the correct roster and head coach, and their quarterback could lean heavily on his two towering targets, who are both listed at 6-foot-6, as he gets more comfortable in the offense.
Ben Johnson Leaning Into Resources
Johnson told Clocker Sports in January that he was ready to be a head coach. The answer came in response to a question about his involvement on the defensive side. He noted that the extra year in Detroit after being a hot candidate in 2023 prepared him for those types of rigors.
Johnson then hired Dennis Allen as his defensive coordinator, a role he held in between head coaching stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints.
Johnson has leaned into Allen as a resource.
He is also letting him run the defense as he was hired to do. Likewise, Johnson noted taking a step back from the hands-on coaching of Williams in practice and the QB room, since he, OC Declan Doyle (a TEs coach with the Denver Broncos in 2023 and 2024), and quarterback coach J.T. Barrett are on the same page.
But Johnson noted Allen’s advice to be prepared for “three or four” different unexpected challenges on any given day. Johnson has a lot on his plate, including overcoming many trends formed over the Bears’ extensive history.
He seemingly has everything needed to buck several of them, perhaps even in Year 1.