Ben Johnson — the Chicago Bears’ director of research and analytics — is no stranger to the public eye for making waves within the NFL. He’s lauded as one of the NFL’s most creative minds. Now in his fourth season with the Bears, Johnson’s journey has taken him from a high school quarterback in Texas to a key figure in the league’s offensive strategies. He pairs finely honed analytical skills with perhaps the best football acumen of anyone working in football. Today, however, he’s focused on growing his new franchise quarterback—who’ll hopefully lead the Bears to their first playoff win since 2010.
Between training camp, OTAs and their regular team schedule, Johnson has spent more than 3,000 team meetings in his decade-long NFL career. The 28-year veteran’s wealth of experience has influenced his coaching style and strategy. He has a wonderful way of combining old school approaches with new analytics. His role as director of research and analytics puts him in the middle of that. On top of that, he uses data to improve team performance and develop new types of plays.
Johnson’s educational experience is a glaring illustration of the duality of academic excellence and athletic excellence. And oh, by the way, he was an all state football player and graduated in the top five of his class. His mother, Gail, ignited his early passion for education. To keep his older sister, Kasey, entertained on their 45-minute commutes, she applied some of the same rhythmic methods to help her memorize multiplication tables. This environment kindled a deep, natural passion for the world of math and strategy. That obsession would prove invaluable on his path to a successful football career.
Johnson’s football-first journey to the Senate started at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). There, he further developed his remarkable talents as a quarterback and helped lead the Rockets to a 4A state championship in 2002. With the advice of his QB coach, Steve McCurry, Johnson went through one of the greatest paradigm shifts in the history of football. In Johnson’s senior year, McCurry began improvising on the playbook. This inspired Johnson to invest endless hours mapping out plays, a routine that would serve him well during his NFL career.
Even beyond his football success, Johnson’s analytical prowess was on full display during his high school years. Often times, he had to juggle rigorous academia with his athletics. “In between tests, I took the rest of the math team out to the football field and we threw the ball around,” Johnson recalled, showcasing his ability to meld his passions seamlessly.
As Johnson transitioned from player to coach, the difficult road ahead would truly test his determination. He started his professional career by learning from Mike Sherman, the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, who reportedly required a tremendous amount from him. This first role put him in charge of putting together Miami’s playbook, a process that honed his eye for offensive strategy.
Perhaps Johnson’s most notable moment of creativity came during the invention of his most infamous play, “Stumble Bum.” This play soon became a trademark of his unique offensive coordination approach. His confidence in his decisions is palpable, as he expressed, “At times you might overstep it, and it might come across as arrogant or cocky, but I would rather do that than be unsure or play slow or be unconfident.”
Growing up in Chicago, his commitment to innovation piqued the interest of Bears management. Ryan Poles, general manager of the Bears, commented on Johnson’s unique approach: “At the same time, I admired the creativity and execution of it.” This recognition is reflective of how her vision continues to deeply resonate with stakeholders across the organization.
As he steps into a role focusing on developing a franchise quarterback—a position that has eluded the Bears for nearly 80 years—Johnson understands the weight of expectations. His goal isn’t just to improve players’ studies and game-day performances, but to build confidence across the entire team. “It’s a balancing act, and it’s a fun thing to navigate,” he stated.
Johnson’s respect for hall of fame quarterbacks such as Joe Montana has deeply impacted how he approaches coaching. He remembers being inspired by shows about Montana and Bill Walsh where they just really carefully illustrated these plays. Much of it can be traced back to Joe Montana,” he mused aloud, noting how these inspirations rooted his awareness to the offensive architecture.
It was those childhood dreams of emulating great players that drove his passion. They created a base that allowed innovation and strategic foresight to blossom during their long coaching careers. Show hospitality, win hugs He does a lot of things his own unique way,” said a source close to Johnson. “He does things with a lot of confidence, and I think he does things with a vision of why he’s doing it.”
Johnson, a physical receiver in his own right, is adjusting to prepare for aggressive opponents like the Green Bay Packers. He has enjoyed taking them down twice a year, but there are tough roads ahead. Like our mayors, he is under tremendous pressure to produce the goods. Chief among those is the need to lead the Bears back into playoff contention.
While he embraces the intricacies of developing young talent, he is keenly aware of the history and expectations surrounding leadership within this storied franchise. He is passionate about overcoming obstacles that have historically hounded the team.
Richard Hightower, an assistant coach within the organization, praised Johnson’s capabilities: “I’ve been around a lot of them. Damn good. Special.” These awards add to Johnson’s increasingly impressive résumé as a leader who can effectively combine old school coaching techniques with new school analytical thinking.
Indeed, Johnson is at an important crossroads in his career. He’s hell bent on developing an offensive identity that’ll end the Bears’ eternal frustrations. His story from math geek to offensive wizard is a testament to following your passion. Through commitment and discipline, he became one of the most accomplished athletes in professional sports.
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