The Chicago Bears have appointed Ben Johnson as their 19th head coach, marking a significant shift in the team's leadership. Johnson, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, will bring his offensive acumen to the Bears and continue to call offensive plays. Alongside Johnson, the Bears have confirmed the hiring of Declan Doyle as their offensive coordinator and Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator. Richard Hightower will remain as the special teams coordinator, entering his fourth season in that role.
Ben Johnson's appointment as head coach signals a new era for the Chicago Bears. Known for his strategic offensive mindset, Johnson has collaborated with notable figures such as Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell in his coaching journey. His previous role with the Lions has prepared him well to lead the Bears' offensive strategies. In his new position, Johnson emphasized the importance of having a reliable and detail-oriented offensive coordinator to support his play-calling duties.
"The offensive coordinator position is going to have to be somebody that not only I trust but will be extremely detail oriented, organized and structured to set the table and also be willing to work late nights." – Ben Johnson
Declan Doyle steps into the role of offensive coordinator after coaching tight ends with the Denver Broncos since 2023. Doyle's coaching career began with four seasons as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints. His experience with different teams and positions adds a diverse range of expertise to the Bears' coaching staff.
On the defensive side, Dennis Allen joins the Bears with a wealth of experience from his time in the Saints coaching tree. Although Allen has never coached alongside Ben Johnson before, Johnson holds him in high regard. Allen's tenure as head coach of the Raiders from 2012 to 2014 and his recent role with the Saints showcase his extensive knowledge and leadership abilities.
"I've never coached with Dennis," Johnson said Wednesday. "I've never met him. But, I would tell you we faced that defense a year ago when he was in New Orleans and gained a lot of respect for it. I think everywhere he has been along the way, they have been a top third-down team, a top red zone team. So there are a lot of pillars about what he does schematically that would be appealing to me. He has worked with Aaron Glenn, he has worked with Dan Campbell. Both speak very highly of him."
Richard Hightower continues his role as special teams coordinator, bringing 19 years of NFL experience to the position. Hightower's previous tenure with the San Francisco 49ers from 2017 to 2021 has equipped him with valuable insights into special teams strategies, which he continues to implement in Chicago.
Ben Johnson's vision for the Bears includes a structured approach to game preparation, focusing on early-week organization and efficiency.
"It's going to be critical for me to find somebody that can organize and structure and set the table, particularly early in the week," Johnson said Wednesday at his introductory news conference. "I have been around a number of guys that have called plays in the past and I've seen the potential pitfalls that could arise as you're approaching the entire football team and you can't get to watching as much tape early in the week as you possibly could."
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