When the Chicago Bears hired head coach Ben Johnson this offseason, they did so to help elevate the offense. But he’s also bringing some energy to the defense.
In his first year as a head coach, Johnson has a respected and established coaching staff around him, mixed with veteran assistants and young, rising coaches looking to make their mark in Johnson’s regime.
While the focus for Johnson and the Bears will be how he turns around the offense and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, one defensive veteran has taken notice of how the new head coach is addressing the defense. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who signed in free agency, raved about Johnson’s intensity and focus on the defensive side of the ball.
“He’s our leader. It is across the board, the standard is the standard,” Jarrett said. “What I can say is with him, and all the coaches, (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen), they’re not coming off of it. It’s our job as players to put our best foot forward every day to reach what’s expected of us. We’re never going to be perfect, but the strive to try to reach it, that can breed excellence. I’m excited for the standard that is set for everybody across the board. This isn’t a program where you try to be guy’s friends and hopefully they’ll buy in. No. You have to get with it. I’ve been around for a long time and that’s the kind of culture you have to set early because when the expectations are high, that’s what you want.”
While Chicago has veteran defensive coordinator and former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen running the show on defense, it’s certainly encouraging to see Johnson bringing the intensity to that side of the ball, as well.