By prioritizing explosive gains while eliminating negative plays, Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson maintains a high-octane ground attack that keeps defenses guessing and unlocks aggressive passing opportunities in short-yardage situations.
At the foundation of Ben Johnson's offense is a detail-oriented run game that sets up everything for the Chicago Bears' coach.
With how pivotal the rushing attack is to Johnson's scheme, the 40-year-old has taken it upon himself to lead the run game install meetings, something that isn't common among head coaches in the NFL.
The Bears finished the 2025 season with the third-most rushing yards (2,345) and runs of 10 yards or more (67). In Johnson's first season as the Bears offensive play caller, he helped Chicago become an explosive running unit and continued the success that he established while he called the plays in Detroit.
According to Ryan Paganetti, Johnson has the second-highest career 10+ yard designed-run rate at 14.2%. The data tracks designed carries of 10 or more yards, excluding quarterback dropbacks, scrambles and wiped-out play, across regular and postseason games from 1999 to 2025.
Johnson wants to create explosive plays. That's a theme of his offense, but what's equally as important is avoiding dead runs. Again, Johnson is at the top of the list among playcallers who avoid runs that gain zero or fewer yards.
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Johnson are separated by "just 0.02 percentage points," according to Paganetti. The two NFC North coaches are ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively in dead run rate (15.5%).
It goes without saying that avoiding negative runs keeps an offense on schedule and the playbook open. According to Brett Kollmann, the creator of All32 and co-host of the Bootleg Football Podcast, here are the second down run rates based on yardage gained on a first down run that Kollmann highlighted in his YouTube video "Does 'establishing the run' even work?"
- No Gain or Loss = 29.2% Run Rate
- Gain of 1-3 Yards = 29.6 Run Rate
- Gain of 4-6 Yards = 48.3% Run Rate
- Gain of 7-9 Yards = 69.8% Run Rate
As you can see, the more yards gained on a first down run led to a higher probability of a run on second down.
There are exceptions, though. Johnson is one of them. According to Pagenetti, here is where Johnson ranks among 68 playcallers with 70+ games since 1999 in second-and-short pass rate.
"No current projected 2026 play caller is even within 17 percentage points of him on 2nd & 1," Paganetti wrote on X.
Johnson's run game isn't just about creating big gains. His vision minimizes negative rushes, keeping the Bears' playbook open and allowing the playcaller to stay aggressive. This makes Johnson dangerous and it highlights the team's sound approach to running the football.
