It is hard to find a good coach in this league, but the Chicago Bears appear to have finally ended years of searching. After just one season, Ben Johnson looks like he's going to be around a long time.
And, what better person to ask about what it takes to be a great head coach than someone who is not only a Hall of Famer, but a Bears legend and someone highly respected around the league?
Bears icon Mike Singletary was gracious enough to spend some time and chat on behalf of his partnership with Athletes in Action and the annual Super Bowl Breakfast.
Of a few different topics covered, I asked Singletary what he likes from Johnson after just one season. His answer should surprise nobody, especially those fans who watched the Bears continually come back from difficult moments.
“When everything’s going against him… when Caleb Williams does something that’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, are you kidding me?’ What are you doing?’ … most coaches would be throwing something, choking somebody or whatever."
Mike Singletary admires Ben Johnson's poise and ability to lead when his back is against the wall
"Ben is there gritting his teeth and just kind of waiting to figure out ‘how do I handle this situation?’ And finding a way to deliver the message as to what we need to change, how it needs to change, let’s get back on track. And to me, that’s what I saw over and over. And that was a good thing to see.”
Iron Mike hits this one on the head. Time and time again, we saw the Bears down in the fourth quarter. We've seen Caleb Williams make some untimely mistakes or miss some throws during crucial moments.
And yet, through it all, Johnson didn't waver. If you've noticed, Williams doesn't waver either.
After each one of the Bears' comebacks, both Johnson and Williams spoke continuously about the team's ability to remain calm, believe in themselves and play until the final whistle. At times, these can feel like clichés. Yet, how many players, coaches and teams truly embody what it takes to "play til the final whistle?"
Singletary played the game with maximum effort, all the time, and his work ethic could never be questioned. He was going 100 miles per hour until the game was over -- and that's what this Bears team found ways to do under Johnson, late in games.
Many coaches, including recent Bears head coaches, have not had it in them to be able to harness the chaos, take some breaths and formulate a plan when things get difficult. Johnson not only found a way to do that, but he, Williams and this team, together, found ways to execute that plan.
It is no wonder why the Bears found a way to secure seven comeback victories, last year, counting the playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.
Read more: Mike Singletary said what every Bears fan knows well about Caleb Williams
The Bears are back. The Bears are resilient. The Bears are going to be in the contention conversation for quite a while, so long as Johnson is in the mix.
Singletary is spot-on.