The NFL world seems to be completely head over heels for Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson after the team's hot start.
In his first season, Johnson has already secured a winning record with the team as they are off to a 9-3 start. The Bears are currently in first place in the NFC North and hold the NFC's number one seed after winning nine of their last 10 games.
While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, CBS Sports commentator JJ Watt was asked about Johnson's work this season. Watt has praised Johnson in the past and did so again.
"I mean, I've talked about Ben Johnson multiple times, but just the things that he does and how blunt and honest he is about correcting issues that are wrong. He talked about the passing game. If you go back to their bye week, he talked about fixing their run game, and ever since that bye week, the running game has been on fire. It's been unbelieveable. Now, he's talked about fixing their passing game, and you would imagine when he says something, he's going to get it fixed because that's what we've seen before. His players respect it, and not only is he fixing things, he's doing it while winning. Like, they are in first place in the NFC. That's the Chicago Bears, who last year had a complete collapse and fell apart. He's come in and done this, and he hasn't even add that second full offseason to do everything he wants to do, so I think the sky's the limit there when he continues to get Caleb (Williamd) to develop."
Watt is seeing the same stuff Bears fans have witnessed in 2025
Going into their Week 13 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, the only real question for Chicago was whether they could beat a team with a winning record (most in the media discredited the Pittsburgh Steelers' win the previous week since Aaron Rodgers was hurt and did not play). A nice 24-15 blowout win over the Eagles was enough for the nation to get on the bandwagon of the Bears.
Chicago's success can be based on two things: they are doing better than anybody in the NFL at running the ball and creating turnovers. The Bears are first in the NFL in rushing offense (153.8 yards per game) and first in turnovers created (26).
Johnson deserves a ton of credit for the culture he has built in Chicago, as the team looks and feels a lot different from the one that won just five games in 2024. Caleb Williams is developing well, the offensive line is drastically improved, the running game is going well, and the defense is finally getting healthy.
Read more: Bears' first Week 14 injury report already has potential Kyle Monangai nightmare
There are still some of those who doubt the Bears can continue this run they are on. Maybe a statement win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 will quiet all the haters once and for all.