Discover how Ben Johnson’s mastery of defensive schemes and creative ingenuity turned an emergency quarterback’s start into a dominant victory, cementing his status as an elite NFL strategist.
The Chicago Bears have one of best play callers in the NFL on their side.
Head coach Ben Johnson isn't afraid to get creative when he needs to. Last season showed that time and time again.
As if we needed more proof of how good he is, he showed us on Monday.
The Bears were without starting quarterback Caleb Williams on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. Case Keenum started at quarterback.
It was his first NFL start in nearly three years. Keenum was the emergency quarterback last season and never saw the field.
He proved that just being around Johnson's offense can have benefits.
Keenum helped lead the Bears to a 27-7 win over the Eagles. He threw for 247 passing yards and had three total touchdowns.
Keenum took advantage of the opportunity and is in position to start for the Bears again in Week 4. The Bears haven't named a starting quarterback as of Friday, but it's either Tyson Bagent or Keenum.
Bagent was in line to start for the Bears in Week 3. He had to clear concussion protocol first. He eventually cleared it, but the Bears decided to go with Keenum regardless.
Now the Bears will face another former Dan Campbell disciple this weekend. Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets are coming to Soldier Field to take on the Bears.
Glenn was the defensive coordinator at the Detroit Lions from 2021-24. Johnson was the offensive coordinator from 2022-24. Both former Lions assistants began their head-coaching careers last season.
At Friday's Jets press conference, Glenn was asked what makes Johnson such a good play caller. He believes that it's because Johnson has taken bits and pieces from the best offensive minds in football.
"I think he studies the game really well, and I've always believed that an offensive play caller that understands defensive concepts gives them an opportunity," Glenn said. "So, they know where the mismatches are, and they know how to put guys in positions to where you might be matched up with a guy that's not as athletic or not as fast or something like that. And I think that's one of his strong points. He just truly understands the game. He's been around some good play callers, and I think he took bits and pieces of those guys and just made his own philosophy on how he sees offensive football being played."
At the end of the day, Johnson has been in the NFL for quite some time. He began as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins in 2012.
He held numerous assistant roles before working his way up to wide receivers coach in 2018. After gaining valuable experience with the Dolphins, Johnson left to join the Lions in 2019.
He became the OC in 2022 and then brought what he learned at both franchises to the Bears last season.
Johnson has taken something from each of his previous NFL stops over the years. That's why he is such a versatile play caller.
It makes sense that Johnson wanted to call plays last year rather than letting OC Declan Doyle do it.
Johnson knows his offense better than anyone, so it's only fair that he should be the one to make play calling decisions.
That's why coaches like Glenn are going to have problems game-planning for the Bears. We'll see what Johnson has up his sleeve as the Bears and Jets meet at Soldier Field this Sunday at noon CT on Fox.
