After transforming Chicago into an explosive, top-10 scoring unit, Ben Johnson cements his status as an elite offensive mastermind. Discover where NFL analysts rank the Chicago Bears' head coach among football’s premier playcallers.
When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson to become the team's head coach, there was an instant upgrade made in the offensive play calling.
While he called the offensive plays in Detroit, he helped the Lions become one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. That desire to hunt for big plays carried over in his first year with the Bears. Johnson did make alterations in Chicago, focusing on more medium to deep throws over the middle of the field rather than shorter passes that created big-time yards after the catch opportunities in Detroit.
Johnson made it clear in his introductory press conference that he would adapt to his playmakers and that's exactly what played out throughout the course of the 2025 season.
The Bears finished as a top-10 scoring offense (No.9), ranked No. 3 in the league in total rushing yards and quarterback Caleb Williams threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards (7th most).
After just one season in Chicago and three years of consistent offensive success in Detroit, it's clear the Bears have a difference maker at the offensive play caller role. But, where does Johnson rank among the NFL's best?
The Athletic's Robert Mays joined Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice on "Football 301 with Nate Tice" to discuss the 12 best NFL playcallers. The NFC West took the top three spots, between Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams), Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers) and Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks).
Given the longevity and success of all three of those coaches, it's hard to debate anyone should be above them. But coming in at No. 4 on the list is Johnson.
This particular attribute stood out to Tice when he watched Johnson's offense.
"It's all a out the explosives and just generating them and it's not just him saying it," Tice said. "Like everyone wants to be explosive. It's like, no, he's calling the plays and the whole entire offense is to generate big plays. ..."
The Bears finished second in the NFL with 127 big plays, runs of 10+ yards and receptions that went for 20+ yards. Only the Buffalo Bills had more big plays (129) during the regular season.
Johnson also coordinates the Bears' run game install, which Tice called "extremely rare."
"He does the run game like it's his thing," Mays said. "And in Detroit, he had more of a hand in than I think people realized, and obviously, if as a head coach, the fact that the head coach, is the person who's spearheading your run game, it's just, he's a different beast."
The two NFL analysts also spoke glowingly about how Johnson utilizes his tight ends and the mismatches he will be able to create this upcoming season with Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet and Sam Roush.
Johnson is going into his sixth season as an offensive playcaller, but the 40-year-old coach has already established himself as one of the best in the NFL, giving Chicago a schematic advantage in nearly every game it plays. In a league separated by small margins, Johnson's offensive mind and playbook make the Bears a team that can contend with the elite of the NFC.
