Everything about this Chicago Bears team was completely different in 2025 from the teams the fan base has seen over the last decade-plus.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson has a lot to do with that, as he shifted the team's culture from annual losers to that of an elite NFL franchise. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson spoke with Chris Long on his "Green Light with Chris Long" show, where he shared what Ben Johnson said that threw him off, but showed how things were going to be different.
"For me, the biggest takeaway was 'we're not trying to win, we're trying to blow people out.' I never heard nobody say that."
Ben Johnson caused a massive shift in Bears' culture
Since 2010, the Bears have had only four winning seasons in 16 years, showcasing the struggles this franchise has endured and its near-acceptance of failure. Ben Johnson did not allow that to happen, and last year was a perfect example of how a changed culture can make all the difference.
Sure, there were some key changes on the offensive and defensive lines, but many of these players were also on the 2024 roster. Guys like Caleb Williams, Darnell Wright, and Gervon Dexter made major strides to have career seasons after experiencing the 5-12 disaster that 2024 was.
Credit needs to be given to Johnson and the Bears' general manager, Ryan Poles, for the job they have done, as well as adding new talent to the roster that matches their new culture. Rookies like Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, Ozzy Trapilo, and Kyle Monangai became instant contributors and bought into Johnson's messaging right away.
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It's no surprise to hear that Jaylon Johnson never heard that from a coach before, since he was stuck with Matt Eberflus and Matt Nagy his whole career. Now things are different with Ben Johnson running the show, and it will stay that way for a long time.
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