Ben Johnson was named head coach of the Chicago Bears on Jan. 21, 2025. He is the 18th full-time head coach in the franchise's 106-year history, arriving in Chicago after leading one of the National Football League's (NFL) most prolific offenses with the Detroit Lions.
Johnson most recently served as Offensive Coordinator in Detroit, where his 2024 unit averaged a franchise-record 409.5 yards per game, helping the Lions average a league-high 32.4 points per game and accumulate 68 total offensive touchdowns – the most by any team in the NFL. In each of his three seasons coordinating Detroit's offense, Johnson's group finished in the top-five in the league in total offense each year, including a No. 2 ranking in 2024. Over the last 2023 and 2024 seasons, no unit averaged more points per game (30.1) or net yards per game (402.2) than Johnson's offensive unit with the Detroit Lions.
After being promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2022, Johnson led the Lions to eight wins in their final 10 games. In 2023, his offense ranked third in total offense (394.8) and second in passing (258.9), culminating in an NFC Championship appearance and a nomination for AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
Under Johnson's guidance in 2024, Detroit achieved a franchise-record 15 regular-season wins, finishing second in the NFL in total offense (409.5) and passing offense (263.3) while excelling in red-zone touchdowns (69.4%) and third-down conversions (47.6%).
Johnson joined the Lions in 2019 as Offensive Quality Control, became Tight Ends Coach in 2020, and helped T.J. Hockenson earn his first Pro Bowl selection by ranking top-five among tight ends in receiving yards, receptions, and first downs.
Before his tenure in Detroit, Johnson spent seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins, serving under three head coaches in various roles, including Offensive Assistant, Assistant Quarterbacks Coach, Tight Ends Coach, Assistant Wide Receivers Coach, and Wide Receivers Coach. Johnson entered the coaching ranks as a Graduate Assistant at Boston College (2009-10), spending three years in Chestnut Hill, including the 2011 season as Tight Ends Coach.
A native of Asheville, N.C., Johnson was a walk-on quarterback at the University of North Carolina, earning degrees in mathematics and computer science.
Related Speakers View all
|
Mike Singletary
Head Coach for the Memphis Express; Former Professio...
|
![]() |
Mike Ditka
Pro Football Hall of Famer, Three-Time Super Bowl Ch...
|
![]() |
Brandon Allen
NFL Quarterback for the Denver Broncos
|
![]() |
Drew Brees
Philanthropist & Former Super Bowl MVP-Winning Quart...
|
![]() |
Joe Theismann
Former Star Quarterback for the Washington Commander...
|
|
Emmitt Smith
Three-Time Super Bowl Champion & Leading Rusher in N...
|
|
Jerry Rice
Hall of Fame Wide Receiver, 3x Super Bowl Champion, ...
|
![]() |
Andy Reid
Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs
|
![]() |
Peyton Manning
Super Bowl-Winning Quarterback & Four-Time NFL MVP;...
|
![]() |
Jim Kelly
NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback; Cancer Su...
|
![]() |
Terry Bradshaw
NFL Hall of Famer, 4x Superbowl Champion, Co-Host & ...
|
![]() |
Nick Sirianni
Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles
|
![]() |
Kevin O'Connell
Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings
|
![]() |
Maral Javadifar
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Tam...
|
![]() |
Brayden Coombs
Special Teams Coordinator with the Detroit Lions
|
![]() |
Cory Undlin
NFL Coach, Defensive Coordinator With Detroit Lions
|
![]() |
Darrell Bevell
NFL Coach, Offensive Coordinator With Detroit Lions
|
![]() |
Tom Mcmahon
NFL Coach, Special Teams Coordinator For Denver Broncos
|
![]() |
Pat Shurmur
NFL Coach, Offensive Coordinator For Denver Broncos
|
![]() |
Vic Fangio
NFL Coach, Head Coach For Denver Broncos
|