Ben Johnson (American football coach)

Benjamin David Johnson (born May 11, 1986) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) since 2025. His NFL coaching career began as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 2012. Johnson later joined the Detroit Lions in 2019.

Personal life
Johnson was born in Charleston, South Carolina on May 11, 1986. He was raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He studied mathematics and computer science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Johnson is married to his high-school sweetheart, Jessica and they have three children.

Chicago Bears
Johnson began coaching for the Bears with several back-to-back losses, losing an 11-point lead to the Minnesota Vikings and losing 52–21 in his return to Detroit. He recorded his first win in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. A win over the Cleveland Browns made him the third Bears head coach to win ten or more games in his first season. Under Johnson, the Bears finished the season with the best record in the division.

In January 2026, the Bears beat the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round for their first playoff win since 2010. After the game, he had an aggressive handshake with Packers coach Matt LaFleur before going to the locker room and yelling "Fuck the Packers! Fuck them. Fucking hate those guys." Johnson defended what he said, as it was common because of the Bears–Packers rivalry.

References

Other websites
 Chicago Bears profile
 UNC Tar Heels profile

Category:1986 births
Category:Living people
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Chicago Bears head coaches
Category:People from Asheville, North Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from North Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from South Carolina
Category:People from Charleston, South Carolina