Bears Ryan Poles explains how the accountability will be different under Ben Johnson compared to what the team dealt with in 2024
The Chicago Bears are set to embark on a new era yet again led by a new head coach in Ben Johnson this upcoming season.The first phase of that new era is behind us with Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles going through the addition phase of the offseason with free agency and the 2025 […]
The Chicago Bears are set to embark on a new era yet again led by a new head coach in Ben Johnson this upcoming season.
The first phase of that new era is behind us with Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles going through the addition phase of the offseason with free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.
Already you can see Johnson's finger prints all over this new roster, but building the culture is going to be the most important thing in turning this organization around.
Last year, the Bears had a strong team with a talented core of players surrounding rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. What the team didn't have was adequate coaching and the level of accountability the players needed to get through the ups and downs of the NFL season.
After former head coach Matt Eberflus was fired mid-season and the new coaching search was underway, multiple players expressed accountability as one of the top traits they hoped to have in their next coach. Not a proven winner, not an offensive or defensive genius, someone who would simply hold the team accountable. Any thing else that coach brought to the table was just a cherry on top.
"I think that's the biggest thing for me," Bears cornerback and leader Jaylon Johnson explained. "Accountability isn't just talking but about actions and changing certain things… If you see something, say something, and then if it's not getting fixed, you got to do so. To me, that's what accountability is."
Already, Ben Johnson has left a positive first impression on his new players in that regard, and the team's general manager added earlier this week that he doesn't expect to see any accountability issues arising again for this team.
"There will be no problems with Ben Johnson, I can guarantee that," Poles explained on ESPN1000. "There is no grey with him, it's black and white. He addresses things head on and has no issues bringing those things to the surface."
All of the issues during the 2024 season began following the team's disastrous Week 8 hail mary loss to the Washington Commanders. After that moment, all form of accountability with the coaching staff vanished leading to a 10-game losing streak.
"When you look at what happened after [that game], it's hard to say it didn't have an effect on the team," Poles added. "It's one thing to say that but being resilient and overcoming those hard times is part of championship makeup, and that's where we need to get better."
Having the core group of returning players go through that moment and now come out on the other side puts the team already in a better spot, without even talking about the new staff coming in.
And as for how those new coaches will set the standards and expectations early for the entire roster of players, Ben Johnson had an easy answer.
"We talked about it the moment the players got back in the building [on April 7]," Ben Johnson explained. "It was going to be a competitive environment. There is no depth chart right now. If you want to play, you've got to go earn it. If you want a role, you've got to go earn it. They know that. We were very straightforward and honest with them when they came in the building."
By having this mindset, you bring out the best in everyone on the roster right out of the gate and put everyone on the same pedestal. As things go along, the coaches have to keep that same level of accountability for every player, and most importantly keep a similar level of accountability for themselves.
Every team goes through hard times during the season. The best ones learn to get through those times together and come out of stronger. Ben Johnson believes his team can be one of the best and he's already getting to work creating that kind of mentality for everyone else.
Chicago Bears way too early 53-man roster projection and potential roster cuts immediately following the 2025 NFL Draft
First crack at deciding the 2025 squad.
