The 2025 NFL season is already generating buzz, but few stories are as intriguing as what’s brewing in the Windy City. The Chicago Bears, a franchise long defined by defensive toughness and quarterback instability, enter the season with a fresh identity, a new head coach in Ben Johnson, and a retooled roster bursting with promise. But one key question echoes throughout the NFL landscape and morning studio panels alike: Will the “Ben Johnson difference” be evident in the Chicago Bears’ film and fortunes—and will that shift be evident when the team takes center stage on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football?
Johnson’s arrival in Chicago came with a mix of surprise and expectation. After turning down interviews a year earlier, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator was one of the hottest names in football. Known for his creativity, schematic prowess, and ability to get the most out of his quarterbacks, Johnson was long seen as a head coach-in-waiting. Now, with a chance to revive one of the league’s most storied franchises, he is being watched like a hawk—not just by Bears fans, but by analysts, GMs, and coaching staffs across the league.
The Good Morning Football crew, famous for their sharp breakdowns and ability to blend football IQ with personality, has already started digging into Johnson’s early imprint on the Bears. Though preseason footage is limited, the buzz around training camp installations, OTAs, and insider reports has given Kyle Brandt, Peter Schrager, Jason McCourty, and the rest of the GMFB panel plenty to chew on.
At the core of their analysis? Johnson’s offense—and more specifically, how he plans to elevate quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears’ highly touted No. 1 overall pick. If Johnson is the chess master some claim he is, and Williams is the generational talent many believe him to be, then the combination could mark a new era for a team that’s often lived in the offensive shadows of its peers.
In Detroit, Johnson transformed Jared Goff from a castaway into a top-tier passer. He built a system around what his players did best—heavy motion, play-action, vertical concepts, and timely misdirection. He made offensive football simple for the quarterback but difficult for defenses. If that same DNA is already trickling into Chicago’s scheme, the GMFB breakdowns are likely to feature All-22 shots of linebackers frozen by misdirection and safeties torched by clever route layering. Peter Schrager’s voice might rise with excitement as he describes Williams hitting Rome Odunze on a post-corner-post pattern, while Kyle Brandt throws in a reference to Soldier Field being “the new electric factory.”
But this isn’t just about flash. Ben Johnson’s difference might also be seen in the small, subtle improvements—situational football, third-down efficiency, red-zone execution, and disciplined clock management. Those were areas where previous Bears coaching staffs routinely faltered, often leaving fans frustrated and defeated. With Johnson, there’s an expectation that the details will be tighter, the execution crisper, and the ceiling dramatically higher.
GMFB’s film study has always been a fan-favorite segment for highlighting not just players but coaches and coordinators who “get it.” The question is whether Johnson will be praised for his tactical mind the same way Mike McDaniel, Shane Steichen, or Kyle Shanahan are. Will McCourty break down a perfectly timed RPO from Week 1 and declare that “this is what a franchise quarterback looks like when paired with a brilliant offensive mind”? Will Schrager pull up red-zone tape from a primetime game and point to the layered design that schemed a touchdown to Cole Kmet?
It’s all possible—if not likely.
But the Bears’ turnaround won’t be measured solely in Xs and Os or slow-motion telestrator clips. The “Ben Johnson difference” is about more than plays; it’s about culture, attitude, and raising the standard. Johnson has already made subtle changes within Halas Hall, from the way practices are scripted to the way film sessions are conducted. Players have commented on the precision with which he coaches, the clarity of his communication, and the accountability he demands. That shift in tone might not show up in highlight reels, but it might shine through in the body language of a more confident team, the sideline demeanor of a composed head coach, and a locker room that believes it can win every week.
And yet, for all the optimism, questions remain. Can Johnson manage the weight of Chicago’s expectations in his first season as head coach? Can he handle adversity—injuries, a losing streak, media scrutiny—with the poise required of a franchise leader? Can he keep Williams progressing while also managing a full roster of personalities and game-day responsibilities? These are fair concerns, and GMFB isn’t afraid to raise them.
Still, the early signs point to something real taking shape in Chicago. Johnson hasn’t come in with empty slogans or hollow promises. He’s come with a plan. And that plan is rooted in maximizing talent, simplifying execution, and putting players in positions to succeed. If the film backs that up, you can bet Kay Adams (or whichever host is anchoring that week) will be smiling as she tosses to another montage of explosive Bears touchdowns, clean pocket throws, and defensive misdirection turned into points.
Let’s not forget the defensive side, either. While Johnson isn’t a defensive coach, his offensive tempo and precision can give the Bears’ defense a huge boost. Fewer three-and-outs, more time of possession, and fewer turnovers can keep a defense fresher and more aggressive. Johnson’s attention to game flow and clock control—two elements that GMFB loves to highlight—could be part of what elevates this team from a cellar-dweller to a legitimate playoff contender.
It also matters how Johnson handles big moments. GMFB loves drama. They live for the primetime upsets, the comeback wins, and the “statement” games. Johnson’s Bears don’t need to go undefeated—they need to show up in big spots. Can they win in Lambeau? Can they beat the 49ers or Eagles under the lights? Can they take the division from the Lions, the very team Johnson helped build? Every time they do, GMFB will be watching, reacting, and analyzing. Every time they fail, they’ll be questioned.
In many ways, the Johnson era in Chicago is tailor-made for Good Morning Football. It’s compelling, it’s layered, it’s unpredictable—and it involves one of the league’s most passionate fanbases. If the Bears begin the season with rhythm, resilience, and results, GMFB will become a weekly love letter to Ben Johnson’s brilliance. If not, it might be a platform for hard questions about why a team with this much talent is still coming up short.
Ultimately, the Ben Johnson difference will be measured in wins. But in the meantime, it will be reflected in the dialogue that shapes public perception. In the replays that get dissected by NFL insiders. In the enthusiasm with which Kyle Brandt screams “DAAAAAA BEARS!” after a big win. In the speculation Schrager offers on whether Johnson is already one of the best play-callers in the league. And in the way McCourty and others highlight how different things feel in Chicago now.
It’s about tone-setting. Scheme-building. Mind-shifting.
If Johnson gets this right—and if the Bears buy in—the difference will be obvious. Not just on film. Not just on the field. But every morning, as the Good Morning Football crew sits down, coffee mugs in hand, eyes bright with curiosity, ready to break down the most exciting new era in Chicago football.
