Ben Johnson puts Bears on notice after dreadful start to season
First-year Bears coach condemns practice habits as the team sits at 0-2 ahead of a Dallas visit; injuries and internal tensions surface amid a brutal stretch.
CHICAGO — First-year Bears coach Ben Johnson delivered a blunt message to his winless team after a 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions, saying their practice habits have not reflected a championship-caliber standard. Johnson spoke to reporters on Sept. 14, 2025, following the lopsided setback in Detroit.
Johnson stressed finishing plays and fundamentals, saying, "We should be going to the football, finishing hard." He added that the players must show up in walk-through, on the practice field and on game day. "The little things — how we block, how we catch the ball, how we block after the catch, ball security — they show up in the game and make a huge difference," Johnson said, linking the routine to on-field results. The Bears, coming off three difficult seasons under former coach Matt Eberflus, started the year 0-2 after a season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings that featured a late rally by Minnesota’s quarterback, J.J. McCarthy. In that opener, Caleb Williams connected with star receiver DJ Moore late but couldn’t finish, and a late fourth-quarter decision involving a Cairo Santos kick extended the clock for the Vikings.
The Lions game also underscored a broader context around Chicago’s personnel and leadership. The Bears hired Johnson, widely regarded as a top coaching candidate, after fire-and-ice seasons under Eberflus, who was let go midway through 2024. Johnson had previously worked as Dan Campbell’s offensive coordinator with Detroit before taking the Bears job and pairing with Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Safety Jaquan Brisker appeared to retweet a message criticizing his role in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system, with a post reading, "They gotta let @JaquanBrisker get up on that LOS & play in that backfield. DA gotta take them chains off." Brisker reportedly replied, "Facts. Use me." The social flap added to the tension around Chicago’s defense, which also saw cornerback Jaylon Johnson exit early and be ruled out indefinitely with a groin injury.
The Bears now turn their attention to a Sunday matchup at home against the Dallas Cowboys, who sit at 1-1 and, notably, have Matt Eberflus on staff as defensive coordinator. Chicago will attempt to respond in front of a home crowd while seeking to stabilize a season that has begun in troubling fashion.
As the season progresses, Johnson faces the challenge of translating the emphasis on finish and fundamentals into wins, while the organization manages injuries, leadership dynamics, and the pressure that comes with a high-profile coaching debut. The path forward for Chicago remains steep, but with an opponent-as-test approach, the Bears aim to reset and build toward a more complete, consistent performance on both sides of the ball.
