Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson was named head coach of the Chicago Bears on Jan. 21, 2025. He is the 18th full-time head coach in the franchise's 106-year history, arriving in Chicago after leading one of the National Football League's (NFL) most prolific offenses with the Detroit Lions.

Johnson most recently served as Offensive Coordinator in Detroit, where his 2024 unit averaged a franchise-record 409.5 yards per game, helping the Lions average a league-high 32.4 points per game and accumulate 68 total offensive touchdowns – the most by any team in the NFL. In each of his three seasons coordinating Detroit's offense, Johnson's group finished in the top-five in the league in total offense each year, including a No. 2 ranking in 2024. Over the last 2023 and 2024 seasons, no unit averaged more points per game (30.1) or net yards per game (402.2) than Johnson's offensive unit with the Detroit Lions.

After being promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2022, Johnson led the Lions to eight wins in their final 10 games. In 2023, his offense ranked third in total offense (394.8) and second in passing (258.9), culminating in an NFC Championship appearance and a nomination for AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.

Under Johnson's guidance in 2024, Detroit achieved a franchise-record 15 regular-season wins, finishing second in the NFL in total offense (409.5) and passing offense (263.3) while excelling in red-zone touchdowns (69.4%) and third-down conversions (47.6%).

Johnson joined the Lions in 2019 as Offensive Quality Control, became Tight Ends Coach in 2020, and helped T.J. Hockenson earn his first Pro Bowl selection by ranking top-five among tight ends in receiving yards, receptions, and first downs.

Before his tenure in Detroit, Johnson spent seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins, serving under three head coaches in various roles, including Offensive Assistant, Assistant Quarterbacks Coach, Tight Ends Coach, Assistant Wide Receivers Coach, and Wide Receivers Coach. Johnson entered the coaching ranks as a Graduate Assistant at Boston College (2009-10), spending three years in Chestnut Hill, including the 2011 season as Tight Ends Coach.

A native of Asheville, N.C., Johnson was a walk-on quarterback at the University of North Carolina, earning degrees in mathematics and computer science.