Ben Johnson: From Mathematical Genius to Bears Offensive Innovator

Ben Johnson: The Mastermind Behind the Bears’ Renaissance

On December 22, 2024, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles watched from his box at Soldier Field, feeling mixed emotions. The Detroit Lions had just scored their final touchdown in a 34-17 loss. Despite the frustration of losing to a divisional rival in the midst of a ten-game winless streak, something in the Lions’ play tempered his disappointment. The play, known as “Stumble Bum”, was devised by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Quarterback Jared Goff faked a stumble while dropping back, while running back Jahmyr Gibbs threw himself to the ground simulating a fumble. After deceiving the Bears’ defenders, Goff threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sam LaPorta.

“I admired the creativity and execution of the play,” commented Poles.

Ryan Poles

The Bears chairman, George H. McCaskey, was also impressed. Johnson was already a top target in the search for the Bears’ next head coach, and this moment demonstrated the creativity and audacity the team was looking for. Johnson’s uniqueness goes beyond trick plays. Known for diagramming plays like a child, and for his dedication to work, he now faces the task of developing a franchise quarterback and guiding the team to its first playoff victory since 2010. On Monday night, the Bears will kick off the 2025 season and the Ben Johnson era against the Minnesota Vikings, marking the culmination of a lifetime of preparation.

“You’ll see, we have a good head coach,” stated Richard Hightower, Bears special teams coordinator.

Richard Hightower

Johnson’s earliest memories are associated with numbers. From a young age, mathematics fascinated him. In kindergarten, he wrote numbers from 1 to 10,000 for fun. His love for soccer developed alongside his passion for mathematics, participating in national competitions.

At the University of North Carolina, where he played as a quarterback, he excelled in both sports and academics. A curiosity: “He pretended to be Joe Montana as a child,” a sign of his early influences.

His father, Don Johnson, noticed how Ben picked up on the details that commentators analyzed on television. In high school, Ben began diagramming formations and sharing his ideas with his father, who was a coach. For most of his high school career, he played in a run-based offense, but in his senior year, his coach allowed Johnson to expand his game.

“He was so cerebral and intelligent that he could tell the offensive linemen who to block, the running back where to go, and the receivers which routes to run,” commented Steve McCurry, his high school coach.

Steve McCurry

After two seasons as a graduate assistant and one year as a tight ends coach at Boston College, Johnson arrived in the NFL as an offensive assistant for the Dolphins in 2012. Mike Sherman, the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, demanded a lot from Johnson, who was responsible for putting together Miami’s playbook. Sherman would draw a summary of each play, and Johnson was in charge of drawing every detail and nuance. Johnson’s sister, Kasey King, knew that Johnson’s firing from the Dolphins was inevitable. After spending eight seasons with Miami, including the last as a wide receivers coach, he was out of a job. Johnson and his family stayed in South Florida, where he volunteered at FIU. At the last minute, he received an offer from Matt Patricia to return to the NFL as an offensive quality control coach for the Lions in 2019.

“You have to find a way to make this work,” Joe Philbin, former head coach of the Dolphins, told Johnson.

Joe Philbin

That job was a starting point for Johnson’s career. In 2020, he became the Lions’ tight ends coach and in 2021, the passing game coordinator. Coach Dan Campbell trusted Johnson, who helped call plays in mid-November 2021. Arthur Smith, former coach of the Atlanta Falcons, noticed subtle differences in the Lions’ game. In the following season, Campbell promoted Johnson to offensive coordinator, a position he held from 2022 to 2024, developing one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. What stood out most was the players’ confidence, which was evident in every play.

“I think his ability to teach, for me, I see it in the tape more than in a mad scientist,” commented Joe Philbin.

Joe Philbin

Harrison Freid, the Bears’ director of research and analysis, has attended more than 3,000 team meetings in 10 NFL seasons. What he witnessed from Johnson to capture his team’s attention before the August 20 practice, he had never seen before. For nine minutes, Johnson read from the book “Objective Secure” by Nick Lavery, a member of the Green Berets, whose application of the warrior mentality extends beyond the military.

“He does things differently. He does things with a lot of confidence, and I think he does things with a vision of why he is doing it. It’s not just that he’s doing it for the sake of doing it,” said Freid.

Harrison Freid

The Bears players have learned about their head coach. Johnson instills intensity in his players, ensuring they master the details. Sessions include extra repetitions when execution doesn’t meet his standards, especially for Caleb Williams, who is held accountable for his mistakes.

“He helps you learn,” said Caleb Williams.

Caleb Williams

Johnson knows how to apply pressure. During his introductory press conference with the Bears, he mentioned how much he enjoyed beating Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur twice a season. Johnson’s confidence is based on a lifetime of preparation.